log insign up- made with the back of the hand facing in the direction of movement
- indirect; ambiguous or insincere
Her compliment was actually a backhanded insult as she called him ‘smart for someone who didn't finish high school‘.
Start tacking to remember the definition of "backhanded" the next time you hear it or read it.
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The term ‘backhanded‘ originated in the 18th century and comes from the sport of tennis. In tennis, a backhand shot is when a player uses the back of the hand to hit the ball instead of the palm. The motion of a backhand tennis shot inspired the figurative meaning of ‘backhanded‘ which refers to a remark or action that is indirect, insincere, or subtly critical.