- underhanded
- underhanded in reference to a throw, etc., c.1822, from UNDERHAND (Cf. underhand). As “in secret,” from 1825; as “with too few people,” from 1834.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
underhanded
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Underhanded — Un der*hand ed, a. 1. Underhand; clandestine. [1913 Webster] 2. Insufficiently provided with hands or workers; short handed; sparsely populated; obsolete in this sense, {short handed} or {understaffed} being the preferrred term. [1913 Webster… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
underhanded — index clandestine, collusive, deceptive, dishonest, disingenuous, false (disloyal), fraudulent, hidde … Law dictionary
underhanded — UK US /ˌʌndəˈhændɪd/ adjective US ► UNDERHAND(Cf. ↑underhand) … Financial and business terms
underhanded — [un΄dər han′did] adj. 1. not open or straightforward; secret, sly, deceitful, etc. 2. SHORT HANDED SYN. SECRET underhandedly adv. underhandedness n … English World dictionary
underhanded — adjective a) Done by moving the hand (and arm) from below. His underhanded trick backfired and he was disqualified. b) Sly, dishonest, corrupt, cheating. An underhanded compliment is actually criticism … Wiktionary
underhanded — I. adverb Date: circa 1822 underhand II. adjective Date: 1853 marked by secrecy, chicanery, and deception ; not honest and aboveboard ; sly < an underhanded attempt to gain power > Synonyms: see secret • underhand … New Collegiate Dictionary
underhanded — underhandedly, adv. underhandedness, n. /un deuhr han did/, adj. 1. underhand. 2. short handed: By the time of the Navy game, Army usually finds itself underhanded. [1800 10; UNDER + HANDED] * * * … Universalium
underhanded — I underhand, underhanded (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) adj. hidden, secret; deceitful, fraudulent, unfair, tricky; stealthy, sly, clandestine, furtive, devious. See secret, deception, improbity. II (Roget s IV) modif. Syn. secret,… … English dictionary for students
underhanded — un|der|hand|ed [ ,ʌndər hændəd ] adjective secret and dishonest: some underhanded sales tactics ╾ un|der|hand|ed|ness noun uncount ╾ un|der|hand|ed|ly adverb … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
underhanded — not legal, not according to rules, not above board Some people say the government was underhanded in dealing with the Indians … English idioms
