Sekirov Dictionary

backhanded

/ˈbækˌhændəd/

adjective 8
adverb 1
forms 2
phrases 1

adjective8

With the back of the hand.
•
Insincere, sarcastic, ironic, or self-contradictory.
- But modesty here is out of the question, and is often the most beggarly and back-handed friend that merit can have in its pay. — 1817
•
Involving a backward flip of the hand.
- Some casters can do a cross-body or backhanded cast quite effectively. — 2014
•
Indirect.
- ClickStart could be seen as a backhanded way of admitting that, to date, the Internet had done exceedingly well by white people as compared to black — 2002
•
Backwards, turned around.
- No one ever believed that Leif meant any harm, but all the luck he brought was backhanded. — 2000
•
inclining to the left
- In this particular instance the writing begins backhanded, and there is a reversion to the right-handed type, -- an unconscious reversion, which makes me think that is the natural method of writing — 1907
•
Self-serving, corrupt, slipshod, or neglectful.
- His backhanded way of analyzing values means that there could be no systematic treatment of the functional consequences for behavior of specific ideas, values, and idea-value complexes. — 1998
•
Retrospective, occurring after the fact rather than in advance.
- ...but that is really a backhanded rent, because I have sold all the produce of my farm six months before I am called upon to pay the last six months' rent. — 1869

adverb1

•
In a backhanded manner.
- As the man crumpled forward, Snow took a further step with his right foot and brought the pole down backhanded with all his power into the right side of the man's head. — 2008

forms

more backhanded · most backhanded

Phrases with backhanded

backhanded compliment
An insult disguised as a compliment; a compliment which can be interpreted as an insult.

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