backhander

American  

[bak-han-der] / ˈbækˌhæn dər /

noun

1. a backhanded slap, punch, stroke, or play.

2. British Slang.

   1. a drink served out of turn to a guest as a bottle or decanter is passed around the table during dessert.

   2. a bribe.

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backhander British  

/ ˈbækˌhændə /

noun

1. a backhanded stroke or blow

2. informal an indirect attack

3. slang a bribe

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Etymology

Origin of backhander

First recorded in 1795–1805; backhand + -er ¹

Example Sentences

After his first shot was blocked, Theodore gathered the loose puck and tried a backhander on which Oettinger made a sprawling save, lunging to knock away the puck with his extended glove.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 24, 2024

Landon Slaggert set up the game-tying goal, taking the puck from Kings captain Anze Kopitar along the boards and feeding Joey Anderson, who scored his fifth goal of the season on a backhander.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2024

Crouse made it 3-1 by flipping a backhander past Pickard early in the third period, but Foegele tied it with a shot from the slot that beat Ingram to the glove side.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 17, 2024

The new Byfield line produced the decisive goal, at 18:13 of the second period, when Byfield converted the rebound of a nifty backhander by Anderson-Dolan.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2024

Powell stopped the ball with a backhander when it was not fifty yards from the goalposts, and Shikast spun round with a wrench that nearly hoisted Powell out of his saddle.

From The Day's Work - Volume 1 by Kipling, Rudyard