Meaning of cack-handed | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Clumsy; inept.
2. Left-handed.
3. Back-handed.

Equivalents

Examples

“Constance endeavoured to get⟳ eight little boys to dance⟳ also; but the little lads were to shy, what an old woman, speaking of her grandson, calls “too daffish and keck-handed to learn⟳ such aunty-praunty antics,” and all that Constance could get⟳ in the way of male support⟳ was to induce eight little lads to look⟳ on, bend⟳ their knees, and bow at intervals, whilst the maidens sang and danced.”

“There is the chairperson who will introduce⟳ you by saying that you need⟳ no introduction, and who will bring⟳ the session to a close⟳ with some cack-handed joke based on a phrase plucked from your talk⟳.”

“‘Just bend⟳ your arms and cradle him on them,’ I told her. She was so cack-handed I could hardly watch⟳. I was short with her when I said, ‘Have⟳ you never held a baby before?’”

“A left-handed child would be held up to ridicule, and the hand tied to prevent⟳ its use⟳. In some parts of England left-handers are called “cack-handed” […]”

CEFR level