gave with one hand and took away with the other

A form of give with one hand and take away with the other — To help in one way but proceed to harm in another.

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Meanings

verb
  1. pastsimple past of give with one hand and take away with the other
Cite this entry
APA

gave with one hand and took away with the other. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gave%20with%20one%20hand%20and%20took%20away%20with%20the%20other

MLA

“gave with one hand and took away with the other.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gave%20with%20one%20hand%20and%20took%20away%20with%20the%20other. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “gave with one hand and took away with the other,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gave%20with%20one%20hand%20and%20took%20away%20with%20the%20other.

Source: gave with one hand and took away with the other on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.