given with one hand and taken 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. participlepastpast participle of give with one hand and take away with the other
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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