backhanded
UK/'bæk'hændid/US
GREC2
Definitions
adj.
Made with the back of the hand facing forward
反手的
adj.
Indirect and seemingly positive but actually insulting
拐弯抹角的；表面褒实则贬的
Root Breakdown
Native Englishbackthe rear of the body; the rear or reverse side; backward, in return
+
-edpast tense / completed
=backhanded
back + hand + -ed = done with the back of the hand. A backhand stroke is sideways and indirect, so figuratively a backhanded compliment is praise delivered 'sideways' — it sounds nice but actually insults ("You're smart for someone so lazy").
Root hand still carries 23 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.a backhanded compliment明褒暗贬的恭维
- 2.backhanded praise拐弯抹角的赞扬
- 3.backhanded shot反手球
Example Sentences
- 1.
He returned the ball with a quick backhanded shot.
- 2.
Calling my cooking "surprisingly edible" was a backhanded compliment.