What is the origin of 'sleep tight'?
Read moreOne of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
adjective
1Made with the back of the hand facing in the direction of movement.
‘a backhanded pass’- ‘It proved to be an impossible task, for the cloaked fighter finished the battle with a single backhanded blow as soon as the ref started the match.’
- ‘Less than four minutes in, he delivered a beautiful backhanded pass that resulted in a three-point play.’
- ‘The center fielder jumped against the wall attempting a backhanded catch.’
- ‘The second baseman raced over to make a nice backhanded save and threw him out.’
- ‘He also isn't playing good defense, failing to make the backhanded stops he has made most of the season.’
- ‘He has good range and has made some superb throws after making a backhanded grab on the run.’
- ‘Unfortunately, he doesn't have much range to his right, and he's horrible at fielding the ball backhanded.’
- ‘Last Thursday he showed his moxie when he made a diving backhanded catch on a one-hopper.’
2Having a meaning that is expressed indirectly or ambiguously.
‘coming from me, teasing is a backhanded compliment’- ‘The backhanded compliment had made her blood rise with both embarrassment and a little bit of annoyance.’
- ‘I guess this is kind of a backhanded compliment on the performances, but the reality is that the stage performance didn't help at all with the film.’
- ‘I don't really think he meant it as a backhanded compliment, but it was funny, all the same.’
- ‘The best thing about it, though (and this is going to sound like such a backhanded compliment…) is the opening credits.’
- ‘Thank you for the backhanded compliment in admitting I'm intelligent.’
- ‘Something about Gran's tone suggested that this was only a backhanded compliment.’
- ‘The poem is a riposte to Lord Beauchamp's backhanded compliment to Australians, ‘Your birthstain you have turned to good.’’
- ‘If that sounds like a backhanded compliment, it is intended as a compliment nonetheless.’
- ‘It sold 55,000, and people started calling him the best rapper in Britain - a bit of a backhanded compliment, taking into account the whole suitcase-and-waterpistol state of British rap.’
- ‘It was not an insult per se, but definitely a backhanded compliment.’
- ‘She laughs nervously at the backhanded compliment.’
- ‘I mean, neither of us is in the prime of youth anymore and this was a bit of a backhanded compliment.’
- ‘Has anybody here gotten a post-show compliment that was meant sincerely but felt like a backhanded compliment?’
- ‘It's usually a backhanded compliment to say that the lighting is great, but in this case, it's the simple truth.’
- ‘One time we played with a traditional puppet master from Japan, and he told us that we ‘seemed to really enjoy what we do’, which I guess is kind of a backhanded compliment.’
- ‘Jude nodded and smiled confidently, even if he was slightly confused by Stephen's backhanded compliment.’
- ‘This was a backhanded compliment: it implied that everyone was capable of appreciating the highest works of art, whatever their class or ethnic background.’
- ‘She was the best thing about the show, which sounds like a backhanded compliment but isn't.’
- ‘It was a backhanded compliment and not a very good one at that.’
- ‘That's sort of a backhanded compliment, so thank you… what was reason number two?’
indirect, ambiguous, oblique, equivocalView synonyms
adverb
With the back of the hand or with the hand turned backwards.
‘Frank hit him backhanded’- ‘Unfortunately, he doesn't have much range to his right, and he's horrible at fielding the ball backhanded.’
- ‘His stabbing was also done backhanded.’
