'to return the compliment' and 'to return the favour'?

[Abc123]

Hi,

Do ‘to return the compliment’ and ‘to return the favour’ mean ‘to behave towards somebody the way they behave towards you’? And can they be used for both positive and negative meaning?

Thank you very much.

[Abc123]

Besides, I’ve also heard that ‘compliment’ and ‘favour’ can be crossed out (and the meaning of the idiom doesn’t change). Is this right?

Many thanks again.

[Abc123]

And one more thing:

It is defined in the Longman dictionary that a ‘back-handed/left-handed compliment’ is something that someone says to you which is nice and not nice at the same time. So does the word only mean sarcasm?

And could you give me some examples of people using back-handed/left-handed compliments?

[Mordant]

If you are returning a compliment, it is positive. To return the favor is literally positive but can be used sarcastically for revenge or insult.

I don’t understand what you mean about crossing out the words. They must be said in order for you to convey the proper meaning.

A back-handed compliment is insincere, expressing a favorable sentiment that highlights something unfavorable. It is indeed sarcastic.

Reggie, I would like to congratulate you for being the only one among us to complete this daunting task. While I guessed the rest of us might end up complaining, I knew the sycophant in you would prevail.

That is an exaggerated example. Often the negativity is more implicit, but this illustrates my point.

I love that sweater, Betty. I always have.

Although this ostensibly praises the fashion choice, it actually highlights the sweater is old and has been worn too much.

[Abc123]

Hi Mordant,

If you are returning a compliment, it is positive.

I found this in the Longman dictionary:
“They didn’t take a lot of notice of me, and I returned the compliment.”

To return the favor is literally positive but can be used sarcastically for revenge or insult.

So you mean it can be used both negatively and positively?

I don’t understand what you mean about crossing out the words. They must be said in order for you to convey the proper meaning.

I saw this on some website:

Return the favor: Also, return the favor. Repay someone in kind, as in Her political opponent came out with a smear campaign, and she returned the compliment. Neither the compliment nor the favor in this idiom is necessarily desirable. [First half of 1700s]

So the bold part simply means the idioms are not used literally?

[Mordant]

I have never heard “return the compliment” as negative, but I am not disputing the dictionary.

So you mean it can be used both negatively and positively?

Absolutely.

So the bold part simply means the idioms are not used literally?

Yes, it does – it means they are not always used literally. I still don’t understand what you mean about crossing out words, though.