I don't mean that in a bad way - a weak attempt to make your insult sound like a compliment,

a weak attempt to make your insult sound like a compliment, like when you say someone is a f***ing genius but then say you meant it in a good way

I said you're a f***ing genius, but I don't mean that in a bad way, I mean it in a good way

I said you're a f***ing disaster, but I don't mean that in a bad way

I called you a f***ing genius, but I don't mean that in a bad way