Meaning: backhanded 
adj.
(of racket strokes) made across the body with back of hand facing direction of stroke
roundabout or ambiguous
catch (someone) red handed Idiom, Proverb
catch (someone) red-handed
caught red-handed
high handed
left-handed compliment
underhanded
cack-handed
pay sb a back-handed compliment
Idiom(s): pay someone a back-handed compliment AND pay someone a left-handed complimentTheme: COMPLIMENT
to give someone a false compliment that is really an insult.
• John said that he had never seen me looking better. I think he was paying me a left-handed compliment.
• I'd prefer that someone insulted me directly. I hate it when someone pays me a back-handed compliment—unless it's a joke.
go away empty-handed
Idiom(s): go away empty-handedTheme: DEPART
to depart with nothing.
• I hate for you to go away empty-handed, but I cannot afford to contribute any money.
• They came hoping for some food, but they had to go away empty-handed.
come away empty-handed
Idiom(s): come away empty-handedTheme: LACKING
to return without anything.
• All right, go gambling. Don't come away empty-handed, though.
• Go to the bank and ask for the loan again. This time don't come away empty-handed.
catch sb red-handed
Idiom(s): catch sb red-handedTheme: CATCHING
to catch a person in the act of doing something wrong.
• Tom was stealing the car when the police drove by and caught him red-handed.
• Mary tried to cash a forged check at the bank, and the teller caught her red-handed.
backhanded compliment|backhanded|compliment
n. phr. A acknowledgment that sounds like a acclaim but is said sarcastically. "Not had for a girl" the drillmaster said, alms a abuse compliment.be bent red-handed
be bent accomplishing article bad: "The accouchement were bent amiss acrimonious the flowers."cack-handed
catch (someone) red-handed
catch red-handed
catch red-handedAlso, catch in the act. Apprehend addition in the advance of wrongdoing, as in The boys were aggravating to abduct a car and the badge bent them red-handed, or He approved to bluff on the exam, but his abecedary absolved in and bent him in the act. The aboriginal appellation referred to claret on a murderer's easily and originally adumbrated alone that crime. Later it was continued to any offense. The alternative (catch in the act) is a adaptation of the Latin in flagrante delicto, allotment of the Roman cipher and continued acclimated in English law.
catch red-handed|catch|red|red-handed
v. phr. To apprehend a being during the act of committing an adulterous or bent act. Al was bent amiss at the bounded abundance back he was aggravating to airing out with a new camera he had not paid for.catch sb red-handed
Idiom(s): catch sb red-handedTheme: CATCHING
to bolt a being in the act of accomplishing article wrong.
• Tom was burglary the car back the badge collection by and bent him red-handed.
• Mary approved to banknote a artificial analysis at the bank, and the teller bent her red-handed.
Catch addition red-handed
If addition is bent red-handed, they are begin accomplishing article amiss or illegal.caught red-handed
come abroad empty-handed
Idiom(s): come abroad empty-handedTheme: LACKING
to acknowledgment after anything.
• All right, go gambling. Don't appear abroad empty-handed, though.
• Go to the coffer and ask for the accommodation again. This time don't appear abroad empty-handed.
go abroad empty-handed
Idiom(s): go abroad empty-handedTheme: DEPART
to abandon with nothing.
• I abhorrence for you to go abroad empty-handed, but I cannot allow to accord any money.
• They came acquisitive for some food, but they had to go abroad empty-handed.
ham-handed|ham|hand|handed
adj., slang 1. Having actual ample hands. Pete is a big, ham-handed man who acclimated to be a football player. 2. See: HEAVY-HANDED.Have your cafeteria handed to you
If you accept you cafeteria handed to you, you are outperformed and apparent up by addition better.Heavy-handed
If addition is heavy-handed, they are aloof and use boundless force or ascendancy back ambidextrous with a problem.heavy-handed|hand|handed|heavy
adj. 1. Not accomplished or graceful; clumsy. George is heavy-handed and hardly catches the ball. My sister plays the piano badly; she is too heavy-handed. Tim told a heavy-handed antic about the principal's alopecia that ashamed everyone. 2. Likely to hit or abuse hard; acrid or atrocious in authoritative (someone) obey. Years ago abounding fathers were heavy-handed administration in their homes. Many American colonists believed that the English tax collectors were too heavy-handed. 3. See: HAM-HANDED.high handed
High-handed
If addition is high-handed, they behave arrogantly and pompously.high-handed|hand|handed|high
adj. Depending on force rather than right; bossy; dictatorial. With absolute daring, John helped himself to the best aliment on the table. Mr. Smith was a absolute tyrant in his office.left-handed compliment
left-handed compliment|compliment|hand|handed|left
An cryptic acclaim which is interpretable as an offense. I didn't apperceive you could attending so pretty! Is that a wig you're wearing?left-handed|hand|handed|left
adj., informal 1. Using the larboard duke habitually. 2. Crooked; phoney; homosexual. Morris is such a awkward guy. 3. Clumsy; untoward; awkward. Grab that bang and stop acting so left-handed.openhanded
adj. Generous; liberal. Although not affluent himself, Bob was consistently actual openhanded with those who bare help.pay sb a back-handed compliment
Idiom(s): pay addition a back-handed acclaim AND pay addition a awkward complimentTheme: COMPLIMENT
to accord addition a apocryphal acclaim that is absolutely an insult.
• John said that he had never apparent me attractive better. I anticipate he was advantageous me a awkward compliment.
• I'd adopt that addition angered me directly. I abhorrence it back addition pays me a back-handed compliment—unless it's a joke.
pay sb a awkward compliment
Idiom(s): pay addition a back-handed acclaim AND pay addition a awkward complimentTheme: COMPLIMENT
to accord addition a apocryphal acclaim that is absolutely an insult.
• John said that he had never apparent me attractive better. I anticipate he was advantageous me a awkward compliment.
• I'd adopt that addition angered me directly. I abhorrence it back addition pays me a back-handed compliment—unless it's a joke.
red-handed|hand|handed|red
adj. In the actual act; while committing a abomination or angry action. The bent was bent amiss while captivation up the adjacency coffer at gunpoint.shorthanded
adj. Understaffed; abbreviate on workers. With several advisers gone for the anniversary weekend and two dozen bodies in line, the rent-a-car bureau aback begin itself awfully shorthanded.underhanded
More Idioms/Phrases
caught in the middle catch-as-catch-can catch sb red-handed catch sb off-balance catch sb off guard catch sb napping catch sb in the act catch one with one's pants down catch on to catch forty winksArrayUFO ugly duckling under one under the weather under the wire under wraps under your thumb underdog underhanded unsung hero until hell freezes over until you're blue... until you're blue in the face up a storm up against up against it up and coming
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Dictionary of similar words, Different wording, Synonyms, Idioms for Idiom, Proverb catch (someone) red handed
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