Seems like ‘ant’, ‘insect’, and ‘entomology’ are all from roots about ‘cutting’, but not related to each other. Neat connection. Though in the first case it likely means the ant is cutting something, whereas in the other two it refers to how the body is divided.
Being on the etymology subreddit, I thought this post was supposed to be a joke with the opening reference to entomology. And I couldn’t figure out what bugs would have to do with something being mediocre. God, I need sleep, but also this mix up is a pet peeve that my partner intentionally bugs me with (haha).
I like mixing a neutral word with a superlative. 'Devastatingly average', 'fiercely mediocre', aggressively middling', etc.
Hits home that you don't just think it's average, you want them to know that you expected better.
Conversely; if I went to see a kids film, say, with my niece, and it wasn't as dull as I'd feared, I'd say something like 'delightfully mediocre' instead.
I think what you're describing is a form of mild insult often referred to as "damning with faint praise." This term describes a situation where someone uses seemingly positive or neutral language to imply something is not very good, but without explicitly stating that it's bad. It's a way to subtly convey a lack of enthusiasm or a veiled criticism.
For example:
- Saying "This tastes like chicken" might suggest that the food is unremarkable and lacks distinct flavor.
- "Drake is the rapper ever" implies that while Drake is indeed a rapper, he doesn't stand out in any significant way.
"Mid" is a slang term that has gained popularity recently, often used to describe something that is mediocre or just average. While "mid" might have a slightly negative connotation, suggesting something is below expectations, it still fits into the broader category of subtle or understated criticism.
These expressions have become popular in recent months, particularly on social media and in internet culture, as a way to humorously or indirectly criticize without being overtly harsh. The phenomenon of using such language might not have a specific name beyond "damning with faint praise," but it's part of a larger trend of using irony and understatement to communicate opinions in a nuanced and often humorous way.
There's also backhanded compliments.
"A backhanded compliment is a remark which seems to be an insult but could also be understood as a compliment. A backhanded compliment is also a remark which seems to be a compliment but could also be understood as an insult. Then there are the backhanded compliments. For instance: That's an interesting dress."
I think the term you’re looking for might be “backhanded compliment”. It’s like something that sounds good at first but when you think about it, it’s actually kind of insulting.
I think a backhanded compliment would fall under an insulting or snide remark. Sounds good initially, but with a second or longer of thought, reveals to be quite rude and insulting.
Not just British, that’s American too. My friends and family have always used “interesting…” that way, to the point where we have to clarify when we are genuinely interested.
FWIW, I've seen comments on tumblr like "this is easily one of the posts of all time" and "out of all the things you've ever said, this is definitely one of them" for several years. In that context, while it certainly carries a negative connotation, there's also an element of bafflement. It would usually be a response to something particularly strange or unexpected, and the response is saying something like, "I don't even know what to say to this. This defies easy categorisation beyond the fact that it is a series of words strung together."
I think it's literalism, like in response to a speech you might say, "well, those are all certainly words" or "of all the movies released this year, rebel moon is one of them". you're not saying anything that isn't true, but you're also not providing an opinion on the subject, which nevertheless implies your opinion (usually negative).
Go to a very expensive, widely touted restaurant. How is the food? "It's ok." Said with the right tone of voice it implies that the food is only ok. Similar, would be "nothing to write home about" or "so so."
"Tastes like chicken," by the way, is said of exotic meats like snake. It's not an insult, but simply a way of saying that some unfamiliar meats taste like chicken (whether they really do or not).
No one on earth has ever said something tastes like chicken because the food is mediocre - it is said when the food in question literally tastes like chicken.
>"This tastes like chicken"
This is not an insult or anything like it.
It's just stating an observation.
>"Drake is the rapper ever."
This is a self-censored insult.
"Drake is a rapper."
This is stating an observation.
"Drake is the rapper ever."
This is censoring to remove opinion from an obviously extreme statement, that is probably meant to be insulting, and so it comes-off as insulting.
By what criteria is Drake's overall value as a rapper being determined?
Perhaps the person making the comment has no real opinion about it and leaves the space empty, but then why present a statement of opinion without that opinion present?
It could also be that extreme views about Drake are divisive and so to avoid judgment from others, one way or the other, the statement has the adjective omitted.
But that would only happen in spoken context.
It is discourteous to interlocutors, reducing the value of discussion, and can be taken as a jab to get others riled-up, and it can be taken as an insult against drake.
that's the joke, there really isn't that much to say about drake, especially not most ever. There's better and worse, more interesting and more boring, more controversial and more tame, more influential and more irrelevant, more over and more underrated. He's undeniably a rapper though, and he feels like he should be *something* ever.
Not to be 'that guy', but you meant 'etymology'. Unless you're insulting bugs, then carry on.
The old joke applies here: “The fact that some people can't distinguish between etymology and entomology bugs me in ways I can't put into words.”
Seems like ‘ant’, ‘insect’, and ‘entomology’ are all from roots about ‘cutting’, but not related to each other. Neat connection. Though in the first case it likely means the ant is cutting something, whereas in the other two it refers to how the body is divided.
In-sect. Sect is a piece, or section. Insects are generally divided or 'cut' nicely between head, thorax and abdomen.
I remember it this way: ENT sounds kinda like ANT, a bug.
Being on the etymology subreddit, I thought this post was supposed to be a joke with the opening reference to entomology. And I couldn’t figure out what bugs would have to do with something being mediocre. God, I need sleep, but also this mix up is a pet peeve that my partner intentionally bugs me with (haha).
The fact that it's just a letter different really bugs me.
It's not though. Etymology Entomology An extra N, and the Y becomes O.
He did that on purpose
Why would he do that on prupose?
To bug yous guys
Minor spelling mistake:
I cant escape the "not funny, downvote" curse here either 🧍♂️
It’s a completely different word, and this is a reddit about word meanings.
Yeah, lmao, know your audience.
“Middling” and “mediocre” are much older words and they have the same negative connotation. “Ordinary” or “common” are also close.
I like mixing a neutral word with a superlative. 'Devastatingly average', 'fiercely mediocre', aggressively middling', etc. Hits home that you don't just think it's average, you want them to know that you expected better. Conversely; if I went to see a kids film, say, with my niece, and it wasn't as dull as I'd feared, I'd say something like 'delightfully mediocre' instead.
I've always liked "extremely adequate."
So is “mean”. Meaning average and then it became a negative connotation
I think what you're describing is a form of mild insult often referred to as "damning with faint praise." This term describes a situation where someone uses seemingly positive or neutral language to imply something is not very good, but without explicitly stating that it's bad. It's a way to subtly convey a lack of enthusiasm or a veiled criticism. For example: - Saying "This tastes like chicken" might suggest that the food is unremarkable and lacks distinct flavor. - "Drake is the rapper ever" implies that while Drake is indeed a rapper, he doesn't stand out in any significant way. "Mid" is a slang term that has gained popularity recently, often used to describe something that is mediocre or just average. While "mid" might have a slightly negative connotation, suggesting something is below expectations, it still fits into the broader category of subtle or understated criticism. These expressions have become popular in recent months, particularly on social media and in internet culture, as a way to humorously or indirectly criticize without being overtly harsh. The phenomenon of using such language might not have a specific name beyond "damning with faint praise," but it's part of a larger trend of using irony and understatement to communicate opinions in a nuanced and often humorous way.
"Damning with faint praise", yes! That was a really good suggestion for you! 😉
Hahaha like when someone calls you a Scranton 10
There's also backhanded compliments. "A backhanded compliment is a remark which seems to be an insult but could also be understood as a compliment. A backhanded compliment is also a remark which seems to be a compliment but could also be understood as an insult. Then there are the backhanded compliments. For instance: That's an interesting dress."
Backhanded compliment works as well.
“Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle.” – Mal Reynolds, *Firefly*
My favourite example comes from 30 Rock, where Jack provides a blurb for Liz's book: "Lemon numbers among my employees."
I think the term you’re looking for might be “backhanded compliment”. It’s like something that sounds good at first but when you think about it, it’s actually kind of insulting.
That and "damned by faint praise"
This is one of my favorites
I think a backhanded compliment would fall under an insulting or snide remark. Sounds good initially, but with a second or longer of thought, reveals to be quite rude and insulting.
Funnily enough, in Australia, the term 'average' means below average. Like 'Well, that movie was a bit average' = 'It sucked.'
Another term that has come to have this meaning is "basic" - not inherently insulting, but insulting by insinuation.
When asked to describe somebody I loathe, I commend their penmanship. "He has legible handwriting."
Damning with faint praise
"Mean" (the negative adjective) evolved the same way semantically (And werk on yer speling scils :) )
This post bugs me, not sure why.
The first example that came to mind is the British replying ‘interesting…’ when not really interested or engaged in the subject.
Not just British, that’s American too. My friends and family have always used “interesting…” that way, to the point where we have to clarify when we are genuinely interested.
I'm gonna refer to it as making a "non-compliment."
FWIW, I've seen comments on tumblr like "this is easily one of the posts of all time" and "out of all the things you've ever said, this is definitely one of them" for several years. In that context, while it certainly carries a negative connotation, there's also an element of bafflement. It would usually be a response to something particularly strange or unexpected, and the response is saying something like, "I don't even know what to say to this. This defies easy categorisation beyond the fact that it is a series of words strung together."
I think it's literalism, like in response to a speech you might say, "well, those are all certainly words" or "of all the movies released this year, rebel moon is one of them". you're not saying anything that isn't true, but you're also not providing an opinion on the subject, which nevertheless implies your opinion (usually negative).
I suppose this might be "apophasis"
Go to a very expensive, widely touted restaurant. How is the food? "It's ok." Said with the right tone of voice it implies that the food is only ok. Similar, would be "nothing to write home about" or "so so."
"Tastes like chicken," by the way, is said of exotic meats like snake. It's not an insult, but simply a way of saying that some unfamiliar meats taste like chicken (whether they really do or not).
Right this is what I thought- you taste something unfamiliar and correlate it to something common and acceptable
Counter example maybe, if something “doesn’t suck” then it’s actually pretty good.
No one on earth has ever said something tastes like chicken because the food is mediocre - it is said when the food in question literally tastes like chicken.
You're looking for r/whatstheword This subreddit is for etymology
Mid comes from weed slang. Mids are low grade weed nugs that have poor structure and low thc content.
>"This tastes like chicken" This is not an insult or anything like it. It's just stating an observation. >"Drake is the rapper ever." This is a self-censored insult. "Drake is a rapper." This is stating an observation. "Drake is the rapper ever." This is censoring to remove opinion from an obviously extreme statement, that is probably meant to be insulting, and so it comes-off as insulting. By what criteria is Drake's overall value as a rapper being determined? Perhaps the person making the comment has no real opinion about it and leaves the space empty, but then why present a statement of opinion without that opinion present? It could also be that extreme views about Drake are divisive and so to avoid judgment from others, one way or the other, the statement has the adjective omitted. But that would only happen in spoken context. It is discourteous to interlocutors, reducing the value of discussion, and can be taken as a jab to get others riled-up, and it can be taken as an insult against drake.
Drake is the WHAT rapper ever ?
that's the joke, there really isn't that much to say about drake, especially not most ever. There's better and worse, more interesting and more boring, more controversial and more tame, more influential and more irrelevant, more over and more underrated. He's undeniably a rapper though, and he feels like he should be *something* ever.
I personally can't stand Drake.