giving with one hand and taking 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. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of give with one hand and take away with the other
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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