backhanded

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

verb hit a tennis ball backhand
adjective (of racket strokes) made across the body with back of hand facing direction of stroke
adjective roundabout or ambiguous

From back + hand + -ed.

So the Watch followed behind and vented its contrition on a mob of boys in occasional backhanded cuffs and current imprecations. — The Passionate Elopement, Compton MacKenzie
With a backhanded blow he hurled Luster aside and caught the reins and sawed Queenie about and doubled the reins back and slashed her across the hips. — The sound and the fury, William Faulkner
He was not thoroughly up in the backhanded stroke, but it was very gratifying to his numerous friends to know that, in time, practice would have overcome this defect. — The Innocents Abroad, Mark Twain

backhand

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