underhand1 adjectiveunderhand2 adverb
underhandun‧der‧hand1 /ˌʌndəˈhænd◂ $ ˈʌndərhænd/ (also un‧der‧hand‧ed /ˌʌndəˈhændɪd $ ˌʌndər-/) adjective 
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- In a series of very smart, underhand moves, Browne gradually gained control of the company.
- But you must watch for underhand dealings, if not deception, in early April and July.
- Godwin is not pleased with that idea: I might compromise my sincerity by acting in an underhand manner.
- He generally fielded at point and his underhand bowling was formidable.
- Its the underhand way you went about the heavy petting and damp carry-on, Douglas.
- She implies that this is somehow underhand.
THESAURUS► dishonest
Collocations behaving in a way that is intended to deceive people, for example by lying, cheating, or stealing: · Are you accusing me of being dishonest?· The money was acquired through dishonest means.· People are no longer surprised to find that politicians are dishonest.
► corrupt using your power in a dishonest way for your own advantage – used about people in official positions: · corrupt politicians· Law and order has broken down, and most government officials are corrupt.
► devious good at secretly thinking of clever plans to trick people in order to get what you want: · You have a very devious mind!· They use all kinds of devious methods to find out your personal details.
► underhand British English, underhanded American English underhand methods involve secretly deceiving people in order to get what you want: · In a series of underhand moves, Browne managed to gain control of the company.
► sneaky doing or saying things secretly, in a way that seems wrong because it is slightly dishonest or unfair: · It was pretty sneaky when the bank charged me interest on my account without telling me.
► sly deliberately behaving in a way that hides what you are really thinking or doing, in a way that is slightly dishonest: · Lucy decided not to tell him where she was going. She was often a bit sly like that.· He’s a sly old fox.
► unscrupulous using dishonest and unfair methods to get what you want, without caring if you harm other people: · Some unscrupulous companies try to persuade people to borrow huge sums of money.
► fraudulent formal deliberately deceiving people in an illegal way in order to gain money or power: · You will be prosecuted if you make a fraudulent claim on your insurance policy.
Longman Language Activatorsecretly dishonest► devious someone who is devious tries to get what they want by secretly using clever plans to trick people, so you can never be sure what their real intentions are: · You have to be pretty devious to be successful in that sort of business.· In the film, he plays a devious defence lawyer named Richard Adler.
► sneaky someone who is sneaky does things secretly and tricks people in order to get what they want: · You never know what's going on in that sneaky mind of his.· Watch out for Andy. He can be really sneaky.
► sly someone who is sly deliberately and cleverly hides their real intentions and feelings in order to get what they want, without other people realizing what they are doing: · Children of that age can be very sly.sly smile/look/expression etc: · A sly look crossed his face when Patsy mentioned the money.
► underhand British /underhanded American underhand methods or ways of doing things involve secretly deceiving people in an unfair way in order to get what you want without them knowing your intentions: · In a series of very smart, underhand moves, Browne gradually gained control of the company.· A federal judge criticized U.S. immigration officials for "underhanded tactics'' to deny asylum to Haitians.· She accused the council of behaving in an "underhand" manner and said residents should have been consulted.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► underhand/unfair tactics
Word family (=actions which are not fair or honest)· I wouldn't stoop to such sneaky, underhand tactics.
WORD FAMILYnounhandhandfuladjectiveunderhandhandyverbhandadverbhandily
dishonest and done secretly: 
They did it all in such an underhand way. He’s been involved in some underhand dealings.► see thesaurus at dishonest → overhandunderhand1 adjectiveunderhand2 adverb
underhandunderhand2 adverb American English ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
word sets- Alice thought: Throwing underhand, pathetic! - and this scorn refuelled her.
- But how could he be so ... underhand?
- It's underhand, but effective.
- The Sox would like to see him throw as well over the top as he does underhand on the move.
- Webster retrieved the ball and flipped it underhand to Rhodes, who had anchored himself at the plate.
WORD SETS► Sport
Collocationsace, nounace, verbacrobat, nounacrobatic, adjectiveacrobatics, nounaction replay, nounaerobic, adjectiveaim, nounaim, verball-American, adjectiveall-seater, adjectivearena, nounAstroTurf, nounattack, verbaway, adverbaway, adjectiveback, nounbackhand, nounbackhanded, adjectivebackhander, nounbackspin, nounball, nounball game, nounbaseline, nounbat, nounbench, verbbleachers, nounblock, nounbobble, verbbout, nounbowl, nounbowl, verbbowling alley, nounbowling ball, nounbowling green, nounbox, nounbox, verbboxer, nounbronze, nounbronze medal, nounbye, nouncall, verbcall, nouncap, verbcaptain, nouncaptain, verbcaptaincy, nounchange, verbchanging room, nouncheer, nouncheerleader, nouncheerleading, nounchip, nounchip, verbcircuit training, nounclose season, nounclubhouse, nouncoach, nounconference, nouncontender, nouncourse, nouncourse, verbcourt, nouncover, verbcross, verbcross, nouncross-country, adjectivecrown, nouncup, nouncup final, nouncup tie, nouncurve, noundead, adjectivedecider, noundefence, noundefend, verbdefender, noundefensive, adjectivederby, noundisallow, verbdisqualify, verbdivision, noundivot, noundown, adverbdraft, noundraw, verbdraw, noundribble, verbdribble, noundrive, noundrop, verbdrop goal, noundropkick, noundrop shot, noundrubbing, noundugout, nouneleven, numberequalize, verbequalizer, nouneven, adjectiveevent, nounface, nounfast, adjectivefavourite, nounfeint, nounfield, verbfielder, nounfieldsman, nounfield sports, nounfight, verbfight, nounfighter, nounfinalist, nounfirst half, nounfirst-string, adjectivefixture, nounflat, adjectiveflip, nounfollow-through, nounfootball, nounfootwork, nounform, nounfoul, nounfoul line, nounfriendly, adjectivefull-court press, nounfull time, nounfumble, verbgala, noungame, noungame point, noungate, noungoal, noungoalie, noungoalkeeper, noungoalless, adjectivegoal line, noungoalmouth, noungoalpost, noungoaltender, noungold, noungold medal, noungrand slam, noungrandstand, nounground staff, noungym shoe, noungymslip, nounhalf, nounhalfback, nounhalf nelson, nounhalf-time, nounhammer, nounhandball, nounhand-eye co-ordination, nounhandicap, nounhandspring, nounhandstand, nounhat trick, nounhead start, nounheat, nounheavy, adjectivehiding, nounhome, adjectivein, adverbinfield, nouninjury time, nouninterference, nouninternational, nounjersey, nounjock, nounjockstrap, nounjogging suit, nounjump, nounjump ball, nounjumper, nounjumping jack, nounjump shot, nounjunior varsity, nounlane, nounleague table, nounletter, nounletter, verblevel, verblineman, nounlinesman, nounline-up, nounlocker, nounlocker room, nounluge, nounmallet, nounmanager, nounmark, verbmassacre, nounmassacre, verbmatch, nounmedal, nounmedallist, nounmeeting, nounMexican wave, nounmidfield, nounmisfield, verbmixed doubles, nounmotocross, nounmotor racing, nounmuff, verbmusclebound, adjectivemuscleman, nounnet, nounnet, verbnetball, nounnil, nounno ball, nounoarsman, nounoarswoman, nounobstruction, nounoffense, nounoffensive, adjectiveoffside, adjectiveOlympiad, nounOlympic, adjectiveOlympic Games, the, onside, adjectiveopener, nounopponent, nounout, adverbout, nounoutdistance, verboutsider, nounoverarm, adjectiveoverhand, adjectiveown goal, nounpacesetter, nounpass, verbpass, nounPE, nounpenalty, nounpep rally, nounperiod, nounphoto finish, nounphysical education, nounpitch, nounplace kick, nounplayable, adjectiveplay-by-play, nounplayer, nounplaying field, nounplay-off, nounpoint, nounpole, verbposition, nounpossession, nounpost, nounpreliminary, nounpro-am, nounprofessionalism, nounpromote, verbpromotion, nounPT, nounpull, verbpull-up, nounpummel, verbpunchbag, nounqualifier, nounqualify, verbquarter-final, nounrace, verbracetrack, nounracing, adjectiveracket, nounrain check, nounrally, nounrecord, nounrecord-holder, nounrecreation ground, nounref, nounreferee, nounreferee, verbregatta, nounrelay, nounrelay race, nounrelegate, verbreplay, verbreplay, nounrerun, verbreserve, nounretire, verbreturn, verbrevenge, nounringside, nounroll, nounrookie, nounround, nounround robin, nounrunner, nounrunner-up, nounrun-up, nounsave, verbsave, nounscore, nounscore, verbscorer, nounscratch, verbscratch, adjectivescreen, nounscrimmage, nounselector, nounsemi, nounsemi-final, nounsemi-finalist, nounsemi-professional, adjectiveserve, verbserve, nounserver, nounservice, nounset, nounshoot, verbshoot, nounshot, nounsideline, nounsilver, nounsilver medal, nounskate, nounskipper, nounslaughter, verbslice, verbslick, nounslump, nounsnowmobile, nounsnowshoe, nounsomersault, nounsouthpaw, nounspar, verbsparring partner, nounspectate, verbspectator, nounspectator sport, nounspin, nounsports centre, nounsports day, nounsportsmanship, nounsporty, adjectivespot, verbsprint, verbsquad, nounstadium, nounstagger, verbstart, nounstarter, nounstarting blocks, nounstayer, nounstick, nounstraight, nounstrip, nounstroke, nounstud, nounsub, nounsudden death, nounsweatband, nounsweatpants, nounsweat suit, nountackle, verbtackle, nountalent scout, nountarget, nounteam-mate, nounthree-legged race, nounthrow, nounthrust, verbtie, nountiebreaker, nountight, adjectivetime, verbtimekeeper, nountime out, nountitle, nountitle holder, nountopspin, nountoreador, nountour, nountournament, nountrack, nountrain, verbtransfer fee, nountrophy, nountryout, nounumpire, nounumpire, verbunbeatable, adjectiveundecided, adjectiveunderarm, adverbunderhand, adverbunplaced, adjectiveuppercut, nounvarsity, nounvolley, nounvolley, verbwalking, nounwarm-up, nounwet suit, nounwhippet, nounwhistle, verbwhistle, nounwin, nounwing, nounwinger, nounworkout, nounwristband, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► underhand/unfair tactics
if you throw a ball underhand, you throw it without moving your arm above your shoulder SYN underarm British English (=actions which are not fair or honest)· I wouldn't stoop to such sneaky, underhand tactics.