- Have you ever felt awkward when someone praised you because you didn’t know how to “take” the compliment?
- Do you know which preposition naturally follows the verb “compliment”?
- Are you worried that your praise might sound like a “backhanded” compliment by mistake?
Mastering compliment collocations is a vital step for any English learner aiming for fluency. Instead of just learning the word in isolation, understanding which words naturally “hang out” with “compliment” allows you to express admiration accurately, respond gracefully to praise, and avoid common grammatical pitfalls that reveal a lack of native-like intuition.
Essential Collocations using COMPLIMENT as a Noun
In English, “compliment” most frequently functions as a countable noun. This means we often use it with articles (a/the) and specific verbs that describe the act of giving or receiving praise.
Verbs Used with the Noun “Compliment”
- Pay a compliment: The most common way to say you are giving someone praise.
Example: “It’s always nice when a stranger pays you a compliment on your style.” - Receive/Get a compliment: To be the person being praised.
Example: “She received many compliments on her presentation skills.” - Accept/Take a compliment: To react to praise in a positive way.
Example: “Don’t be so modest; just take the compliment!” - Return a compliment: To praise someone back after they have praised you.
Example: “When he told me I looked nice, I returned the compliment by praising his tie.” - Fish for compliments: To try to make people say nice things about you.
Example: “By constantly criticizing her own cooking, she was clearly fishing for compliments.”
Adjectives Frequently Paired with “Compliment”
- Sincere compliment: A piece of praise that is honest and heartfelt.
Example: “A sincere compliment can brighten someone’s entire day.” - Backhanded/Left-handed compliment: An insult disguised as praise.
Example: “Saying I look ‘good for my age’ felt like a backhanded compliment.” - High compliment: Very great praise.
Example: “To be compared to the original artist is a high compliment indeed.” - Dubious compliment: Praise that is doubtful or could be taken as an insult.
Example: “He gave me the dubious compliment of saying I was the ‘least messy’ person he knew.”
Common Collocations with COMPLIMENT as a Verb
When used as a verb, “compliment” describes the action of expressing admiration. The most critical factor here is the prepositional structure that follows it.
The “Compliment Someone ON” Pattern
In modern English, we almost always compliment someone on a specific trait, possession, or action. Using “for” is a common learner error.
- Compliment (someone) on (something):
Example: “The manager complimented the team on their hard work.”
Adverbs Used with the Verb “Compliment”
- Warmly compliment: To praise someone with genuine kindness.
Example: “The host warmly complimented us on our choice of wine.” - Profusely compliment: To give a lot of praise, perhaps excessively.
Example: “She complimented him profusely on his heroic actions.” - Publicly compliment: To praise someone in front of others.
Example: “It is important to publicly compliment employees to boost morale.”
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Pay a compliment | Verb + Noun | To give someone praise. |
| Compliment on | Verb + Preposition | The correct way to link the praise to the reason. |
| Backhanded compliment | Adjective + Noun | Praise that is actually an insult. |
| Fish for compliments | Verb + Noun | Trying to get people to praise you. |
| Take a compliment | Verb + Noun | To accept praise graciously. |
| Warmly compliment | Adverb + Verb | To praise someone with a kind tone. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| Give a compliment (Less common) | Pay a compliment |
| I compliment you |
I compliment you on your dress. |
| He was |
He was paying her compliments. |
| It was a |
It was a backhanded compliment. |
Note: While “give a compliment” is understood, “pay a compliment” is the high-frequency idiomatic choice used by native speakers in both formal and informal settings.
“During the annual gala, the CEO took a moment to publicly compliment the marketing department on their record-breaking campaign. It wasn’t just a sincere compliment; he backed it up with a bonus. Later, Sarah tried to return the compliment by praising his leadership, though some colleagues felt she was just fishing for compliments regarding her own promotion.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Compliment Collocations
Is it “compliment for” or “compliment on”?
The correct preposition to use after the verb “compliment” is “on.” For example: “I must compliment you on your English.” While you might occasionally hear “for” in casual speech, “on” is the standard and most natural choice.
What is the difference between “compliment” and “complement”?
This is a very common spelling error! A “compliment” (with an ‘i’) is a piece of praise. A “complement” (with an ‘e’) refers to something that completes or goes well with something else (e.g., “The red wine complements the steak”).
Why do we use the verb “pay” with compliment?
This is a fixed collocation in English. Much like “paying attention” or “paying a visit,” the verb “pay” here suggests a social exchange of value. “Paying a compliment” is considered more sophisticated than “giving” one.
What does it mean to “take something as a compliment”?
This phrase is used when someone says something that might be ambiguous or even slightly rude, but you choose to interpret it as a positive remark. For example: “He said I’m ‘obsessed’ with detail, but I’ll take it as a compliment to my work ethic.”
Can “compliment” be used as a plural noun?
Yes, “compliments” is the plural form. It is often used in the phrase “My compliments to the chef,” which is a formal way to say the food was excellent.
I'm a new English learner, and this article made so much sense! I will try to 'pay a compliment' to someone tomorrow. Wish me luck!
That's fantastic, Priya! We're so glad the article clicked for you. Your enthusiasm is wonderful, and we're sure your compliment will be well-received. Good luck, and keep practicing these new phrases!
How would you politely decline a compliment if you genuinely feel you don't deserve it? Is 'I don't deserve it' too blunt?
That's a thoughtful question, Ryan! While 'I don't deserve it' can sometimes sound a bit self-deprecating or even dismissive of the compliment giver, you can politely decline or downplay it by saying something like: 'That's very kind of you, but I was just doing my job,' or 'Thank you, but it was a team effort.' The key is to acknowledge the compliment before redirecting it!
My biggest challenge is always remembering the correct preposition. I often get 'compliment FOR something' mixed up. It's definitely 'ON something', right?
You're spot on, Isabelle! When you're talking about the subject of a compliment (what someone is being praised for), the correct preposition is indeed 'on.' So, it's always 'compliment someone ON something.' Keep that in mind, and you'll avoid a common grammatical pitfall!
This reminds me of how important it is to listen for full phrases, not just individual words. Thanks for breaking down 'compliment' so clearly!
You've absolutely hit the nail on the head, Daniel! Focusing on chunks of language and collocations rather than isolated words is a powerful strategy for accelerating your English learning. We're delighted to help you develop that keen ear for natural English phrases!
What about the verb form? For example, 'I complimented her on her outfit.' Is that common? The article mostly focused on the noun.
Excellent point, Min-jun! Yes, the verb form 'to compliment' is very common, and your example 'I complimented her on her outfit' is perfectly natural and correct. When using the verb, you 'compliment someone on something.' This article focused on the noun collocations as they are often trickier for learners, but the verb is equally important!
I used to always say 'give a compliment' until a native speaker gently corrected me to 'pay a compliment'. This article explains exactly why! It's like a lightbulb moment.
That's wonderful to hear, Fatima! Those 'lightbulb moments' are what we aim for. Learning the most natural collocations can significantly boost your confidence and fluency. Keep paying attention to how native speakers express themselves, and you'll continue to make great progress!
As an advanced learner, I appreciate articles that dive into these subtle 'native-like intuition' aspects. It's often the small collocations that give away a non-native speaker. Keep up the great work!
Thank you, Oliver! We're glad to hear that our focus on native-like intuition resonates with advanced learners like you. Mastering these nuances is indeed key to achieving true fluency and sounding natural. We'll continue to provide content that addresses these subtle but important distinctions!
I sometimes confuse 'compliment' with 'complement'. I know they are different, but the sound is so similar! Does anyone else have this problem? Any tips for remembering which is which?
You're not alone, Sophie! 'Compliment' and 'complement' are classic homophones that confuse many learners. Here's a tip: 'Compliment' (with an 'i') is about praise – think 'I like your new hairstyle!' 'Complement' (with an 'e') is about completing something or making it better – think 'This wine complements the meal.' Focus on the 'i' for 'I like' and 'e' for 'everything completes'!
Is there a difference in tone between 'accept a compliment' and 'take a compliment'? Perhaps 'accept' sounds a bit more formal?
That's a very perceptive question, Hiroshi! While both 'accept a compliment' and 'take a compliment' are correct and common, 'accept' can indeed carry a slightly more formal or deliberate tone, suggesting a conscious choice. 'Take' is perhaps a bit more common in everyday, casual conversation. However, both are perfectly fine to use!
This explains why my attempts to praise people sometimes felt a bit awkward. I used to translate directly from Spanish, and the equivalents don't always carry the same nuances. 'Pay a compliment' feels much more natural now!
It's completely understandable, Maria! Direct translation can often lead to those 'awkward' moments, which is precisely why focusing on collocations is so beneficial. We're delighted that 'pay a compliment' feels more natural to you now – that's a sign of real progress!