left-handed compliment
pay one a left-handed compliment
An ambiguous compliment which is interpretable as an offense.
I didn't know you could look so pretty! Is that a wig you're wearing?
She said my new pants really make my legs look much slimmer. What a left-handed compliment!
left-handed
Using the left hand habitually.
She is left-handed.
Crooked; phoney; homosexual.
Morris is such a left-handed guy.
Clumsy; untoward; awkward.
Grab that hammer and stop acting so left-handed.
lend a hand
give a hand
bear a hand
To give help; make yourself useful; help.
Оказывать помощь; помогать; протягивать руку помощи.
The stage manager asked some of the boys to lend a hand with the scenery.
Dick saw a woman with a flat tire and offered to give her a hand with it.
This box is heavy. Could you lend me a hand?
Эта коробка тяжелая. Ты не мог бы мне помочь?
Would you give me a hand lifting this heavy box?
When Terry’s car broke down at night on the highway, no one would stop to lend her a hand.
let one's left hand know what one's right hand is doing
To make a show of your kindness or help to others. Used in the negative.
The Bible tells us not to let the left hand know what the right hand is doing when we give to the poor.
To let everyone taking part in something know what each is doing; encourage cooperation in working. Often used in the negative.
Tom told Fred and Bill to meet him in town, but he forgot to tell them where. Next time he'll let his left hand know what his right hand is doing.
Our team lost today because the coach and captain did not let the left hand know what the right was doing, and the players were all mixed up.
lift a finger
lift a hand
raise a hand
To do something; do your share; to help. Usually used in the negative.
We all worked hard except Joe. He wouldn't lift a finger.
The king did not lift a hand when his people were hungry.
live from hand to mouth
To live on little money and spend it as fast as it comes in; live without saving for the future; have just enough.
Жить в плохих условиях, впроголодь; иметь мало денег - еле сводить концы с концами.
Mr. Johnson got very little pay, and the family lived from hand to mouth when he had no job.
These Indians live from hand to mouth on berries, nuts, and roots.
The man has been living from hand to mouth for many years.
Мужчина еле сводил концы с концами на протяжении многих лет.
The family was very poor and had to live from hand to mouth.
Семья была бедной, и им приходилось жить впроголодь.
many hands make light work
If many people work together, even a hard job becomes easier. A proverb.
Come on boys, many hands make light work. If we work together, we can finish painting the barn.
off one's hands
No longer in your care or possession.
Ginny was glad to have the sick dog taken off her hands by the doctor.