left-handed

/'lefthændid/
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Thân thiện
left-handed

A left-handed student writes in a notebook.

Definition
  1. Adjective:
    • Using the left hand more skillfully or by preference: Describes a person who naturally uses their left hand for tasks like writing or throwing.
    • Ambiguous or ironic, often implying insincerity: Describes a remark, especially praise, that is ambiguous or contains an implied criticism.
    • Awkward or clumsy: Describes a lack of physical skill or dexterity.
    • Designed for or done with the left hand: Refers to tools or objects made to be used by a left-handed person.
    • Illicit or morganatic: Historically describes a marriage between people of unequal social rank, where the spouse and children of lower rank do not inherit titles or property.
Usage and Examples

  • Primary Meaning (Hand Preference):

    • He is a left-handed batter, which gives him an advantage against certain pitchers.
    • The store specializes in selling left-handed scissors and can openers.

  • Meaning (Ambiguous/Ironic):

    • Saying my painting was "interesting" felt like a left-handed compliment.
    • His apology was so left-handed that it seemed more like an excuse.

  • Meaning (Clumsy):

    • His left-handed attempt to fix the sink only made the leak worse.
    • The left-handed handling of the crisis led to public criticism.

  • Historical/Legal Meaning (Marriage):

    • The prince entered into a left-handed marriage, so his children could not claim the throne.
Advanced Usage
  • "Left-handed compliment": A common idiom meaning praise that is ambiguous or contains a hidden insult.
    • Telling me I'm smarter than I look is a classic left-handed compliment.
Variants and Related Words

  • Left-hander (noun): A person who is left-handed.

    • As a left-hander, she had to adapt to using right-handed desks in school.

  • Left-handedly (adverb): In a left-handed manner; awkwardly or ambiguously.

    • He praised her work left-handedly, leaving her unsure of his true opinion.
Synonyms
  • Southpaw (informal, noun/adjective): A left-handed person, especially in sports.
  • Awkward: Lacking skill or grace.
  • Backhanded: Indirect and typically insincere, especially of a compliment (similar to the ironic sense).
  • Morganatic: Of a marriage between a person of high rank and one of lower rank.
Antonyms
  • Right-handed: Using the right hand more skillfully.
  • Dexterous: Demonstrating neat skill, especially with the hands.
  • Straightforward: Direct and unambiguous.
Related Phrases and Idioms
  • A left-handed compliment: (See Advanced Usage above).
  • Left-handed marriage: A historical term for a morganatic marriage.
left-handed

A left-handed student writes in a notebook.

Adjective
  1. lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands
    • a bumbling mechanic
    • a bungling performance
    • ham-handed governmental interference
    • could scarcely empty a scuttle of ashes, so handless was the poor creature- Mary H. Vorse
  2. ironically ambiguous
    • a left-handed compliment
  3. rotating to the left
  4. (of marriages) of a marriage between one of royal or noble birth and one of lower rank; valid but with the understanding that the rank of the inferior remains unchanged and offspring do not succeed to titles or property of the superior
  5. (of marriages) illicit or informal
    • in Colonial America left-handed marriages between Frenchmen and Indians were frequent
  6. using or intended for the left hand
    • left-handed golfers need left-handed clubs
    • left-handed scissors

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