backhand
/'bækhænd/
Definition
Noun:
- A stroke in tennis and other racket sports: A shot made with the back of the hand facing the direction of the stroke, typically starting from the opposite side of the player's body.
- Handwriting that slants to the left: A style of writing in which the letters slope backward, to the left.
Adjective:
- Of a stroke: Made with the back of the hand facing forward, as in a backhand shot.
- Of handwriting: Having letters that slant backward or to the left.
Verb:
- To hit with a backhand stroke: To strike a ball, especially in tennis, with a backhand motion.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Her backhand is her strongest shot in tennis.
- His elegant backhand won him the crucial point.
- Adjective:
- He executed a perfect backhand volley at the net.
- The letter was written in a distinctive backhand script.
- Verb:
- She managed to backhand the ball down the line for a winner.
Advanced Usage
- "Backhanded compliment": A remark that seems to be a compliment but contains a critical or insulting element.
- Saying "You're smarter than you look" is a classic backhanded compliment.
Variants and Related Words
- Backhanded (adj): 1. Performed with or using a backhand. 2. Indirect, ambiguous, or insincere (as in a backhanded compliment).
- Backhander (n): 1. A backhand stroke. 2. (Informal) A bribe or secret payment.
Synonyms
- Noun (for stroke): Backhand stroke, backhand shot.
- Adjective (for handwriting): Left-slanting.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Compounds
- Backhand drive: A powerful, flat backhand stroke.
- Backhand slice: A backhand stroke where the racket cuts under the ball, imparting backspin.
Related Idioms
- None that are directly and solely formed with the word "backhand" as defined above. The common idiomatic use is the compound "backhanded compliment."
Adjective
-
(of handwriting) having the letters slanting backward
-
(of racket strokes) made across the body with back of hand facing direction of stroke
Noun
-
a return made with the back of the hand facing the direction of the stroke
Verb
-
hit a tennis ball backhand
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