underhand activities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "underhand activities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions that are deceitful, dishonest, or unethical in nature. Example: "The investigation revealed a series of underhand activities that compromised the integrity of the organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

More than that – with information suddenly available from salt-of-the-earth citizens, the snide, aggressive and underhand activities of some elements of the media became more socially unacceptable, and more damaging to the reputation of journalists as a whole.

Independent

Insider sources have since confirmed to VICE that Starbucks knew full well about Nursalim's underhand activities before they formed their incredibly profitable partnership.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The underhand activity is allegedly conducted in saunas, an old Mafia trick: naked men cannot carry recording devices or wires undetected.

The Economist

Deripaska's people accuse Bell of peddling untruths about him and are preparing to sue at least two of the Sunday newspapers that printed allegations about alleged underhand activity.

The Guardian

And third was underhand.

The New York Times

It was underhand.

The Guardian

Sidearm, underhand, overhand".

The New Yorker

It was underhand and pathetic.

Independent

Women's Underhand Chop: Shannon Strong.

The New York Times - Sports

Men's Underhand Chop: David Bolstad.

The New York Times - Sports

It is an underhand and unfair practice.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "underhand activities" when you want to emphasize that something was done in a secretive and unfair way to gain an advantage. This phrase is particularly effective in investigative journalism or ethical critiques where the moral failure is the focus.

Common error

Avoid using "underhand activities" if you are referring to physical sports techniques (like an underhand pitch in baseball or an underhand serve in volleyball). In those cases, use "underhand motion" or simply "underhand" as an adverb, as the word "activities" implies a broader series of deceitful events rather than a single physical gesture.

Linguistic Context

In the context of the examples provided by Ludwig, "underhand activities" functions as a noun phrase. It typically serves as the object of a verb or preposition to denote a collective of deceptive actions. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used to describe unethical behavior.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Reference

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "underhand activities" is a precise and effective phrase used to describe deceitful, secretive and unethical behavior. While Ludwig shows only a few exact matches for the plural noun phrase specifically, the use of the adjective "underhand" to describe tactics, affairs and conduct is very common in high-quality journalism. It is a hallmark of British English, though it is universally understood. Writers should use it when they want to emphasize the sneaky and unfair nature of an action, especially in corporate, political or legal contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a correct and usable expression for serious writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dishonest dealings

Focuses more on the transaction or interaction aspect of the deceit.

unethical conduct

Provides a more formal and broader categorization of the behavior.

deceptive practices

Specifically emphasizes the intent to mislead others.

shady practices

Uses more colloquial language to describe suspicious or ethically dubious actions.

surreptitious dealings

Highlights the secretive nature of the actions more than the morality.

devious maneuvers

Suggests a level of complex planning or skill in being deceptive.

fraudulent behavior

Implying a potential legal violation or criminal deceit.

clandestine actions

Focuses heavily on the secrecy and hidden nature of the activities.

sneaky tactics

A more informal way to describe clever but unfair methods.

covert operations

Often used in political or military contexts to describe hidden missions.

FAQs

How to use underhand activities in a sentence?

You can use it to describe corruption, such as: "The corporation was accused of "shady practices" and underhand activities to suppress competition."

What is the difference between underhand and underhanded?

Both are correct and largely interchangeable. "Underhand" is more common in British English, while "underhanded" is the preferred form in American English for describing deceitful behavior.

What can I say instead of underhand activities?

Depending on the severity, you could use "unethical conduct", "deceptive practices", or "dishonest dealings".

Is underhand activities a formal expression?

It is considered neutral to formal. It appears frequently in reputable news outlets like The Guardian and The Economist to describe political or corporate scandals.