UNDERHAND

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does underhand mean? 

• UNDERHAND (adjective)
  The adjective UNDERHAND has 2 senses:

1. with hand brought forward and up from below shoulder level

2. marked by deception

  Familiarity information: UNDERHAND used as an adjective is rare.

• UNDERHAND (adverb)
  The adverb UNDERHAND has 2 senses:

1. slyly and secretly

2. with the hand swung below shoulder level

  Familiarity information: UNDERHAND used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNDERHAND (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

With hand brought forward and up from below shoulder level

Synonyms:

underarm; underhand; underhanded

Context example:

an underhand stroke

Domain category:

athletics; sport (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition)

Antonym:

overhand (with hand brought forward and down from above shoulder level)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Marked by deception

Synonyms:

sneaky; underhand; underhanded

Context example:

achieved success in business only by underhand methods

Similar:

corrupt; crooked (not straight; dishonest or immoral or evasive)

• UNDERHAND (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Slyly and secretly

Synonyms:

underhand; underhandedly

Context example:

oldline aristocratic diplomats underhandedly undermined the attempt...to align Germany with the Western democracies

Sense 2

Meaning:

With the hand swung below shoulder level

Synonyms:

underarm; underhand

Context example:

throwing a ball underarm

 Context examples 

"I've told Missis often my opinion about the child, and Missis agreed with me. She's an underhand little thing: I never saw a girl of her age with so much cover."

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

He had suspected his agent of some underhand dealing; of meaning to bias him against the deserving; and he had determined to go himself, and thoroughly investigate the merits of the case.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

He was friendly, in a treacherous sort of way, smiling into one’s face the while he meditated some underhand trick, as, for instance, when he stole from Buck’s food at the first meal.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

In the interview which followed between him and Mrs. Reed, I presume, from after-occurrences, that the apothecary ventured to recommend my being sent to school; and the recommendation was no doubt readily enough adopted; for as Abbot said, in discussing the subject with Bessie when both sat sewing in the nursery one night, after I was in bed, and, as they thought, asleep, Missis was, she dared say, glad enough to get rid of such a tiresome, ill-conditioned child, who always looked as if she were watching everybody, and scheming plots underhand.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

"Oh, it's nothing underhand," he assured me. "Miss Baker's a great sportswoman, you know, and she'd never do anything that wasn't all right."

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)