underhanded tactic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "underhanded tactic" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a deceitful or dishonest method employed to achieve a goal, often in competitive situations. Example: "The company's use of an underhanded tactic to undermine its competitors raised ethical concerns among consumers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"It's an underhanded tactic, but the kid falls in love with the car".

The New York Times

The board's action, however, was widely viewed among Kurds as an underhanded tactic to disenfranchise them.

The New York Times

"We thought this was a really underhanded tactic," Mr. Ollen said.

The New York Times

Some students and parents are livid about their presence on the team, saying it deprives local players of court time and is an underhanded tactic by Mount St.

The New York Times

The underhanded tactic, known as pay for delay, occurs when a generic drug company tries to bring its product to market by challenging the patents on a brand-name drug.

The New York Times

If anything, most people were left with the feeling that VeriFone is very afraid of Square (the startup is growing fast) and used an underhanded tactic to bring down a competitor.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Nobody does hissy fits like Karl Rove; the master of hardball, dirty-trick politics is constantly outraged, outraged, at his opponents' underhanded tactics.

The New York Times

But both Lendle and Book Lender disavow such underhanded tactics.

The Economist

"Their underhanded tactics displace longtime residents from their homes and exacerbate the acute affordable-housing shortage".

The New York Times

Both sides are using underhanded tactics and both sides are using violence".

The New York Times

Still, the two opposition parties said that United Russia had used underhanded tactics.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reserve this phrase for intentional acts of deception rather than accidental mistakes or simple lack of transparency.

Common error

In American English, "underhanded tactic" is the standard form for describing dishonest behavior. While 'underhand' is common in British English or when referring to sports (like an underhand toss), using 'underhand' in a figurative moral context in American English can sometimes feel less idiomatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "underhanded tactic" functions as a descriptive noun phrase, typically serving as the direct object of a verb (e.g., 'employing', 'using') or as a subject complement. According to Ludwig AI, it follows standard grammatical patterns where a qualifying adjective modifies a specific noun to attribute a moral quality to a method.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Science

1%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "underhanded tactic" is a powerful and frequently used tool in modern English for describing behavior that is deceitful, sneaky, or fundamentally unfair. Data from Ludwig AI shows that it is a staple of high-quality journalism, appearing in outlets like The New York Times and The Economist to describe everything from political maneuvering to corporate sabotage. It is grammatically sound and carries a heavy moral weight, making it ideal for contexts where you need to call out someone for not 'playing by the rules'. While synonyms like "dirty trick" exist, "underhanded tactic" provides a more sophisticated, though still pointed, way to deliver criticism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deceptive ploy

Emphasizes the intent to mislead rather than just the unfairness.

dirty trick

More informal and implies a direct violation of sportsmanship or fair play.

sneaky strategy

Suggests a level of cleverness combined with dishonesty.

underhand technique

The British English variant, often applied to physical or technical methods.

dishonest gambit

Uses chess terminology to imply a calculated risk that is morally compromised.

shady practice

Often used in business to describe questionable but not necessarily illegal actions.

unethical maneuver

A more formal term focusing on the violation of professional standards.

devious method

Suggests a complex or roundabout way of achieving a goal unfairly.

unscrupulous measure

Highlights a total lack of moral principles in the action taken.

surreptitious move

Focuses primarily on the secrecy and hidden nature of the act.

FAQs

How do I use "underhanded tactic" in a professional sentence?

You can use it to critique a competitor's behavior, for example: "The firm resorted to an "underhanded tactic" by spreading false rumors about their rival's financial stability."

What can I say instead of "underhanded tactic" in formal writing?

In more formal contexts, you might prefer terms like "unethical maneuver" or "unscrupulous measure" to describe the same behavior.

Is "underhanded tactic" considered an idiom?

It is a common colocation rather than a strict idiom, as the meanings of the individual words contribute directly to the overall meaning. Alternatives like "dirty trick" are more idiomatic.

Does "underhanded tactic" always imply a lie?

Not necessarily; it can refer to a "sneaky strategy" that uses technicalities or omissions to gain an unfair advantage without telling a direct falsehood.