gives with one hand and takes 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.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

verb
  1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of give with one hand and take away with the other
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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