backhand

Opposite-side stroke

A backhand is a stroke in tennis and similar sports made with the back of the hand facing the direction of movement—the opposite of a forehand.

The term extends to any swing or blow delivered this way: a backhand slap across the face.

As a verb, to backhand is to strike with this motion.

Backhanded can mean indirect or ambiguous: a backhanded compliment carries an insult within apparent praise.

tennis

volley

Simultaneous firing burst

serveAttend to needs
slicePortion cut off
topspinForward ball rotation

lob · smash · groundstroke · rally · baseline · grip · racquet · court · net · dropshot

dismissive

slap

Open-handed blow

swatHit something sharply
waveOscillating motion through medium
brush-offAbrupt, dismissive rejection

rebuff · reject · snub · slight · cold-shoulder · contempt · disdain · scorn · spurn · cuff

insult

compliment

Words expressing approval

remarkSpoken comment or note
slightMinor or thin
snubDeliberate dismissive rejection

dig · barb · jibe · taunt · innuendo · veiled · indirect · cutting · sarcasm · mockery

Categories

table tennispaddle, ball, serve, net, table
strokesbackstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, crawl, freestyle
hockey shotsslap shot, wrist shot, snap shot, one-timer, tip-in
tennis shotsvolley, serve, lob, smash, drop shot
tennisace, serve, volley, lob, smash
hockeypuck, hockey, ice hockey, pucks, field hockey

Opposites

tennis/racquet stroke direction

backhandforehand

Palm-outward racket stroke

forehand drive · palm · open palm

compliment style (figurative usage)

backhandstraightforward

Clear and uncomplicated

overt · spoken · frank · candid

slap/strike direction

backhandpalm

Hand's flat interior

palm strike · slap

Phrases

backhanded complimentPraise that subtly insults

Family

backhanded, backhander, backhands, backhanding, backhanders

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G