backhanded

/'bæk,hændid/

Thân thiện

She returned the tennis ball with a powerful backhanded stroke.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Indirect, ambiguous, or insincere: A "backhanded" remark, action, or compliment is one that seems positive on the surface but contains a hidden criticism or is not genuinely meant.
   • (Of a racket stroke) Made with the back of the hand facing forward: In sports like tennis or squash, a "backhanded" stroke is one executed across the body with the back of the hand leading the motion.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective (Indirect/Insincere):
  • Saying "You're smarter than you look" is a classic backhanded compliment.
  • His offer to help felt backhanded, as it implied I couldn't manage on my own.
• Adjective (Sports Stroke):
  • She has a powerful backhanded drive in tennis.
  • The player executed a perfect backhanded shot down the line.

Advanced Usage

• "Backhanded way": An indirect, often deceitful, method of achieving something.
  • He achieved his promotion in a backhanded way, by taking credit for others' work.
• "Backhanded manner": A manner of speaking or acting that is not straightforward.
  • She agreed, but in such a backhanded manner that I knew she was unhappy.

Variants and Related Words

• Backhand (noun/verb): The stroke itself or the act of hitting with a backhand.
  • He practiced his backhand for hours. (noun)
  • She backhanded the ball cross-court. (verb)
• Backhandedly (adverb): In a backhanded manner.
  • He praised her work backhandedly, noting it was "surprisingly good."

Synonyms

• Indirect: Not straightforward.
• Ambiguous: Open to more than one interpretation.
• Left-handed: (When referring to compliments) Insincere or ambiguous.
• Two-edged: Having a double or ambiguous meaning.

Related Phrases

• Backhanded compliment: An insult disguised as praise.
  • Telling someone they are "pretty for their age" is a backhanded compliment.

Idioms

• A backhanded way of saying: An indirect or roundabout way of expressing something, often something negative.
  • His comment about the "interesting" decor was just a backhanded way of saying he didn't like it.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. roundabout or ambiguous
   • attacks from that source amounted to a backhanded compliment to his integrity
   • a backhanded and dishonest way of reaching his goal
2. (of racket strokes) made across the body with back of hand facing direction of stroke

Từ đồng nghĩa

• backhand