| 释义 |
back-handed, a.|ˈbækˌhændɪd|
[f. prec. n.]
1. With the back of the hand.
1813L. Hunt in Examiner 15 Mar. 162/1 A back-handed pat on the cheek. 1836Macready Remin. II. 23 A back-handed slap across the face.
2. Directed backwards, or with the hand or arm crossing the body (i.e. for a right-handed man from left to right), as a sword-cut; sloping backwards, as handwriting. Also as adv.
1889H. W. W. Wilberforce Lawn Tennis 29 It is much more difficult to volley a high lob backhanded than forehanded. 1890L. Dod in C. G. Heathcote Tennis 310, I believe myself in changing the grip of one's racket, both for fore- and back-handed strokes. 1898The ‘House’ on Sport I. 222 The first great step in this direction [of improving polo] was the introduction of the back-handed stroke. 1922A. E. Crawley Lawn Tennis Do's & Don'ts 27 The receiver is in doubt whether to play it forehanded or back⁓handed. 1934A. Christie Murder on Orient Express i. vii. 63 One would have to strike backhanded.
3. fig.
†a. Keeping back one's hand, backward, remiss;
b. Indirect, like a back-handed sword-cut.
1800Deb. Congress (1851) 832/2 In a back-handed way and not in the fair regular manner. 1817Godwin Mandeville II. 180 (D.) Modesty..is often the most beggarly and back-handed friend that merit can have. 1818Scott Rob Roy xxvi, Rob might get a back-handed lick at him. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. xii, Having given her this back-handed reminder.
Hence back-ˈhandedly adv., in an indirect or back-handed manner; backˈhandedness.
1859in Worcester. 1889Cent. Dict., Backhandedly, with the hand directed backward: as, to strike back-handedly. 1957K. A. Wittfogel Oriental Despotism ix. 386 He backhandedly admitted that his statement did not include the ‘barbarian’ world of Oriental despotism. |