underhand

American  

[uhn-der-hand] / ˈʌn dərˌhænd /

adjective

1. executed with the hand below the level of the shoulder and the palm turned upward and forward.

   an underhand delivery of a ball.

2. underhanded.

   an underhand deal with the chief of police.

   Synonyms:

   surreptitious, clandestine, sly, stealthy

---

adverb

1. with the hand below the level of the shoulder and the palm turned upward and forward.

   to bowl underhand.

2. secretly; stealthily; slyly.

underhand British  

/ ˈʌndəˌhænd /

adjective

1. clandestine, deceptive, or secretive

2. sport another word for underarm

---

adverb

1. in an underhand manner or style

Etymology

Origin of underhand

First recorded before 900; 1530–40 underhand for def. 2; Middle English adverb under honde “in one's possession, in one's charge, secretly,” Old English under hand, under hond(e) “in one's possession, in one's subjection, in one's power”; under-, hand

Example Sentences

"It is unacceptable that the government has decided to turn its back on them in such an underhand way, and we must continue to advocate for them," she added.

From BBC

A man who worked in the ticketing industry for almost 40 years showed us how he infiltrated a secret online group that claims to have secured thousands of tickets using underhand methods.

From BBC

Which is why, in the days immediately afterward, he then incorporated underhand flip drills into his pregame work as well.

From Los Angeles Times

Right now, there is: Intrigue, plotting, phone calls, quiet chats, guesswork and claims of underhand tactics.

From BBC

As he was leaving the field, a frustrated López hoisted his glove high into the air with an underhand toss.

From Los Angeles Times