Pickup Artist Techniques

noun a slang term for a manipulative behavior in which someone gives backhanded compliments or subtle insults to undermine the confidence of a person they are interested in romantically

verb to engage in the practice of negging

• Negging is a manipulative technique used in some social interactions.
• I heard that guy was negging you at the party last night.
• I can't believe he was negging you like that, what a jerk.
• His constant negging was like a dark cloud hanging over their relationship.