the back of (one's) hand

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the back of (one's) hand

1. A rejection, snub, or rebuke; a display of contempt or scorn for someone or something. She met their accusations with the back of her hand. I give the back of my hand to anyone who says I'm not a good parent.
2. Used to represent one's complete knowledge of or familiarity with something. Usually used after the verb "know." I've read this book so many times, I know it like the back of my hand. You should ask Samantha for directions—she knows this town like the back of her hand.
See also: back, hand, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

back of one's hand

Rejection or contempt, as in Unimpressed with him, she gave the back of her hand to his suggestion. This phrase is usually the object of a verb such as give or show. [Second half of 1700s] Back of the hand similarly means "an insult" in the term back-handed compliment (see under left-handed compliment) but has a quite different meaning in know like the back of one's hand (see under know like a book).
See also: back, hand, of
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive ?
Check doorknobs and sides of a door with the back of your hand. If you are within a room, gently place the back of your hand on the doorknob and around the door.
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The days of scribbling notes on the back of your hand in a bid to improve your chances of getting a good mark in an exam have gone for good, apparently.
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On a long flight back from Japan, this guy asked me in broken English: "What is to look forward to in America?" I thought about it for a minute, and said, "Learn these two things and you'll be alright: 'It's cool' (the international thumbs-up to keep everything on the up and up), and 'I'm good' (flatten the back of your hand when enough is enough).
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Hold the back of your hand near it to feel for heat.
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Your age spots have been developing since you were a baby and are the result of many years of tanning on the back of your hands. The more sunlight your skin is exposed to, the younger you are when they appear.
Miriam
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