1
general::
compliment
verbs
pay/give somebody a compliment
• He was always paying her compliments.
mean something as a compliment
• When I said she’d lost weight, I meant it as a compliment.
get/receive a compliment
• The exhibition has received a lot of compliments from the public.
accept a compliment
(= show that you are pleased to have been given a compliment )
• She accepted his compliment graciously.
adjectives
a great compliment
• He said he loved my paintings, which was a great compliment.
the highest compliment
(= the best thing you can say )
• The highest compliment you can pay an actor is to say they don’t look as if they are acting.
an unexpected compliment
• John blushed at the unexpected compliment.
transnet.ir
2
general::
noun expression of praise ADJ. great, higher/highest, tremendous To listen to someone is the greatest compliment you can pay. | pretty | unexpected | backhanded, double-edged, dubious In a backhanded compliment she said he looked very good for his age. VERB + COMPLIMENT pay sb | mean sth as Please don't misunderstand me?I meant it as a compliment. | get, receive | accept, acknowledge She acknowledged their compliments with a big smile. | regard sth as, take sth as I'll take that as a compliment. | fish for She's always fishing for compliments about her looks. | repay, return He returned her compliment by saying how well she looked. PREP. ~ on She received several compliments on her speech. | ~ to If Mark's wearing a suit, that'll be a compliment to you! your compliments: good wishes VERB + COMPLIMENT give sb, present (sb with), send sb Please give my compliments to your wife. COMPLIMENT + NOUN slip The only enclosure was a formal compliments slip from the accounts department. PREP. with sb's ~ (= free) All guests will receive a bottle of champagne with our compliments. | ~ to my compliments to the chef (= to show that you like a particular dish)
Oxford Collocations Dictionary