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backhanded

   Also found in: Legal, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
back·hand·ed  (bkhndd)
adj.
1. Sports Made with or using a backhand: a backhanded shot into the opponent's court.
2. Oblique or roundabout: a backhanded compliment.

backhanded·ly adv.
backhanded·ness n.

backhanded [ˌbækˈhændɪd]
adj
1. (of a blow, shot, stroke, etc.) performed with the arm moving across the body
2. double-edged; equivocal a backhanded compliment
3. (of handwriting) slanting to the left
4. (Miscellaneous Technologies / Knots) (of a rope) twisted in the opposite way from the normal right-handed direction
adv
in a backhanded manner
backhandedly  adv
backhandedness  n
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adj.1.backhandedbackhanded - (of racket strokes) made across the body with back of hand facing direction of stroke
2.backhanded - roundabout or ambiguous; "attacks from that source amounted to a backhanded compliment to his integrity"; "a backhanded and dishonest way of reaching his goal"
indirect - extended senses; not direct in manner or language or behavior or action; "making indirect but legitimate inquiries"; "an indirect insult"; "doubtless they had some indirect purpose in mind"; "though his methods are indirect they are not dishonest"; "known as a shady indirect fellow"

backhanded
adjective
1. ambiguous, ironic, indirect, sarcastic, oblique, sardonic, double-edged, equivocal, with tongue in cheek a backhanded compliment
2. indirect, rambling, roundabout, meandering, devious, oblique, circuitous, circumlocutory, periphrastic In a backhanded way, he raises yet another objection.
Translations
backhanded [ˈbækˈhændɪd] ADJ
1. [blow] → de revés
2. (fig) [compliment] → ambiguo, equívoco
backhanded [ˌbækˈhændɪd] adj [remark] → à double tranchant; [compliment] → à double tranchant, faux*(fausse)
backhanded [ˌbækˈhændɪd] adj (blow) → con il dorso della mano (Tennis) (stroke) → di rovescio
backhanded compliment → complimento ambiguo
backhanded [ˌbækˈhændɪd] adj (blow) → con il dorso della mano (Tennis) (stroke) → di rovescio
backhanded compliment → complimento ambiguo


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
He was also to exhibit 'his astounding feat of throwing seventy-five hundred-weight in rapid succession backhanded over his head, thus forming a fountain of solid iron in mid-air, a feat never before attempted in this or any other country, and which having elicited such rapturous plaudits from enthusiastic throngs it cannot be withdrawn.
Then quickly and with a dainty backhanded blow, he rapped Eric beneath his guard so shrewdly that it made his head ring again.
Philander, with a mildly puzzled expression on his face, turned to pursue Professor Porter, and in his mind he was revolving the question of whether he should feel complimented or aggrieved at Miss Porter's rather backhanded compliment.
 
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