What terms describe humorous acceptance of a compliment?

Question

My wife complimented a chef on his delicate fish cookery last night.
Reply: "They're great, these boil-in-the-bag dishes."

I complimented a violinist on his performance recently and commented that it brought tears to the eyes.
Reply: "Was it that bad?"

In both cases the compliment was clearly accepted.
In both cases the response was humorous.

My question is: how do we describe such humour?

It is not sarcasm, because there is no intention to hurt or criticize:

Cambridge
sarcasm:
the use of remarks that clearly mean the opposite of what they say, made in order to hurt someone's feelings or to criticize something in a humorous way

and it is not simply banter, which seems too general a term:

Cambridge
banter:
to talk to someone in a friendly and humorous way

Is there a better term than these?

Answer 1

You may be thinking of "deflection." Examples of deflecting a compliment can be found in Greek and Roman history. In Euripedes Medea, the title character deflects a compliment from her nurse. In the speech "Pro Marcello," Cicero deflects a compliment on his legal skills by pointing out the skills of his opponent.

Answer 2

Both replies are attempts to make light of the situation by not accepting (the sincerity of) someone's reaction, but their origins are different:

• The first reply, "They're great, these boil-in-the-bag dishes", I believe is self-deprecation (or self-depreciation), out of genuine modesty or in an attempt to appear humble, probably with the intention to add humour:

  belittling or undervaluing oneself; excessively modest

• The second reply, "was it that bad?", is, or at least has a hint of, irony, incidentally because they likely interpreted your comment as irony:

  the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning:
  the irony of her reply, “How nice!” when I said I had to work all weekend

Answer 3

Several ideas come to mind, but I see the examples more as 'dad jokes' and I'm not quite sure I see how "[in] both cases the compliment was clearly accepted," so that may colour my responses (but feel free to steer me in the right direction if I'm mistaken).

Based on my interpretation, rapartee is what I'm hearing you describe. From Merriam and Cambridge:

rapartee

1. a. quick and witty reply
   b. a succession or interchange of clever retorts : amusing and usually light sparring with words
2. adroitness and cleverness in reply : skill in repartee

Usage note: REPARTEE implies the power of answering quickly, pointedly, or wittily

3. quick and usually funny answers and remarks in conversation:

   Oscar Wilde's plays are full of witty repartee.

Other ideas along the same lines are: quip, rejoinder, bon mot, witticism ("often...ironic remark" Merriam), wisecrack (clever or sarcastic remark).

Again, I don't see how the "compliment was accepted", but some of the other answers capture that and could be combined with words from above. For example: a self-effacing wisecrack or a self-deprecating quip.

A few other words more in the direction of "self-effacing" or generally "not serious" come to mind (Cambridge):

facetious

not serious about a serious subject, in an attempt to be funny or to appear clever

Usage note: Some common synonyms of facetious are humorous, jocose, jocular, [waggish], and witty. While all these words mean "provoking or intended to provoke laughter," facetious stresses a desire to produce laughter...ill-timed attempts at wit or humor

Sardonicism tends to be but is not necessarily dark/malicious, that is clever and playful, while also not being overly broad.

Here's a definition and example from the same site:

Sardonic

Sardonic is an adjective describing dry, understated, and sort of mocking speech or writing—such as a clever remark that stings because it’s so accurate. While sardonic comments seem slightly hostile, they are supposed to be witty and humorous rather than deeply hurtful.

I did not attend the funeral, but I sent a letter saying I approved of it. (Mark Twain)

Answer 4

I would consider this a witty remark or a witty retort.

[witty]: The adjective witty can be used to describe those quick little funny remarks that often demonstrate a sharp, biting humor delivered in a playful manner.

[retort]: a quick answer that is angry or funny

Answer 5

"False modesty" works, unless you feel that something false must always be bad.