expression
by any standard; (not) even as flattery
Used with a negative predicate to mean 'even if one tried to flatter, it cannot be said that...' or 'by no stretch of the imagination'. Often translates as 'far from', 'anything but', or 'not exactly'.
彼の料理はお世辞にも美味しいとは言えない。
His cooking is, to put it mildly, not delicious.
あの映画はお世辞にも傑作とは呼べない。
That movie is far from being a masterpiece.
From お世辞 (flattery) + に (adverbial particle) + も (inclusive particle). Literally 'even as flattery', it developed into a set phrase meaning 'even with the most generous assessment'.