Johnny Is So Creative, It’s Scary.

Quote:  "The student works to the best of his ability."  Common teacher recommendation for college applicants, according to admissions officers in USA Today.

Figure of Speech:  ennoia (en NOY a), the figure of faint praise.

According to USA Today, more than a tenth of teacher recommendations damn applicants through faint praise.  They employ the ennoia (Greek for "hidden intention").  The figure gets frequent exercise in our wimpy, argument-averse culture.  "Thirty years ago, a letter might have said that Johnny is not a nice person," says Lee Stetson, dean of admissions at the University of Pennsylvania, "whereas today the letter might say that Johnny does not have many friends."

Extremely enoiing.

Snappy Answer:  "Thank you for your candor."

Comments

[scott gray]

and this student works very well under direct supervision.

[Ghost Dogg]

is also an example of adianoeta, a sort of non-sexy double entendre.