Hugh and John were exchanging faintly barbed courtesies.是什么意思？

Hugh and John were exchanging faintly barbed courtesies.

休和约翰正说着带有相互挤兑意味的客气话。

Hugh

n. 休（男子名）；

例句
...the restaurant that Hugh and all his friends go to...
休和他所有的朋友都光顾的餐馆

and

conj. 和，与，而且，于是，然后，因此；

例句
I spend a lot on expensive jewelry and clothing...
我花很多钱购买昂贵的首饰和衣服。

John

n. 茅房，厕所；

例句
He was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Minsk by Pope John Paul II.
他被教皇约翰·保罗二世任命为明斯克区的宗座署理。

were

be的过去时复数和第二人称单数形式，有时代替 was,用于条件从句、动词 wish 之后等；

例句
Shops, houses, and vehicles were set ablaze.
店铺、房子和车辆全都陷于火海。

exchanging

v. 换回( exchange的现在分词 )，交换，替换，进行易货贸易，作物物交换，[金融业]（货币）交换，兑换；

例句
She heard Tom exchanging good-natured banter with Jane.
她听见汤姆和简互相打趣。

faintly

adv. 微弱地，隐约地，虚弱地，有点；

例句
Hugh and John were exchanging faintly barbed courtesies.
休和约翰正说着带有相互挤兑意味的客气话。

barbed

adj. 装有倒钩的，尖刻讥讽的，锋利的；

例句
Hugh and John were exchanging faintly barbed courtesies.
休和约翰正说着带有相互挤兑意味的客气话。

courtesies

n. 谦恭有礼，礼貌，请安( courtesy的名词复数 )，有礼貌的举止[言词]，承蒙；

例句
The small courtesies sweeten life; the greater ennoble it.
有点礼貌使生活愉快, 多点礼貌使生活高尚.