A left-handed compliment is a criticism couched as a compliment, a compliment with two meanings, one of which is unflattering to the receiver.  It is also known as a backhanded compliment.

Examples:

• You are very competent for someone so inexperienced.
• That dress is really sharp.

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Interesting article in the Oxford Dictionaries Blog on terms for left-handers:

• Sinister

  Used to refer to something of, on, or towards the left-hand side of the body (and is Latin for left). It also gave rise to the rather uncomplimentary adjective sinistrous: left-handed,

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