Faint/Feint

Posted by David FG on September 19, 2004

In Reply to: Faint/Feint posted by Bookworm on September 19, 2004

: In Fallen's post below he says "Praised with faint damn..." I've heard of the phrase "feint praise" (though I haven't seen it spelled out) and I always took it to mean that the praise was faked, hence the correct word would be "feint". Or, was it supposed to "faint" as in with only a slight trace?

The original phrase is indeed, 'Damned with faint praise'. It means to pretend to praise something or someone, but using such modest (slight) language as to be, in reality, criticising. For example:

'Your latest theory is adequate, Professor Hawking'.

The version 'Praising with faint damns' is a humorous inversion.

DFG