left field
The part of a baseball out-field to the batter's left.
Right-handed batters usually hit to left field.
left fielder
The player in baseball who plays in left field.
The scoreboard in the ball park is on the fence behind the left fielder.
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.
left-wing
That which is or belongs to a group of people in politics that favors radical change in the direction of socialism or communism.
The left-wing faction called for an immediate strike.
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.
out in left field
Far from the right answer; wrong; astray.
Johnny tried to answer the teacher's question but he was way out in left field.
Susan tried to guess what the surprise was but she was way out in left field.
Speaking or acting very queerly; crazy.
The girl next door was always queer, but after her father died, she was really out in left field and had to go to a hospital.
right and left
In or from every direction; all around; on all sides.
The knight rode into battle striking at the enemy right and left with his broadsword.
When the talk ended, questions were thrown at the speaker right and left.