backhander

American

[bak-han-der] / ˈbækˌhæn dər /

noun

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

backhander British

/ ˈbækˌhændə /

noun

a backhanded stroke or blow
informal an indirect attack
slang a bribe

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of backhander

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mal begins the book as a convict, an ex-Marine and former lawyer who got caught up in racketeering charges related to a crooked influence peddler nicknamed Barry the Backhander.

From New York Times • Oct. 17, 2012

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023