two left hands
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Calque of French avoir deux mains gauches.
Pronunciation[edit]
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /tuː lɛft hæn(d)z/
Noun[edit]
two left hands pl (plural only)
- (idiomatic) Lacking dexterity in either hand; being ambilevous
- 1828, Mrs Margaret Dods [pseudonym; Christian Isobel Johnstone], The Cook and Housewife's Manual: Containing the Most Approved Modern Receipts for Making Soups, Gravies, Sauces, Ragouts, and All Made-dishes; and for Pies, Puddings, Pickles, and Preserves; Also, for Baking, Brewing, Making Home-made Wines, Cordials, &c. ..., 3rd edition, Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, →OCLC, page 37:
- There are awkward grownup persons, having, as the French say, two left hands, whom no labour will ever make dexterous carvers;
- 1847, William Hogan, Auricular Confession and Popish Nunneries, volume 1, Hartford: Silas Andrus and Son, →OCLC, page 142:
- [Orestes] Brownson is one of those characters. He has two left hands, and was never known to do anything right; whatever he touches he is sure to despoil and disfigure.
- 1905, R. E. Francillon, “Left-Handed Elsa”, in H. Chalmers Roberts, editor, Tales from "Blackwood": Being the most Famous Series of Stories ever Published Selected from that Celebrated English Publication (1), volume 1, New York: Doubleday, Page & Company, →OCLC, pages 1–2:
- "Oh Max, it must be true what father says, and I've got two left hands instead of one; what a scolding I'm in for!"
- 1995, Jason R. Taylor, Jacob Birnbaum, I Kept My Promise: My Story of Holocaust Survival, 1st edition, Jason R. Taylor Associates, →ISBN, page 73:
- So, when the factory issued a requisition for ten workers, the commandant picked the worst candidates--sick people like me, and those schlemiels with two left hands and two right feet, who he knew couldn't get the job done.
- 2002, Marian Annett, Handedness and Brain Asymmetry: The Right Shift Theory, New York: Psychology Press, →ISBN, page 23:
- Ambidexterity means equal skill with both hands, as contrasted with the term “ambilevous” meaning equally unskilled with both hands (or described as having “two left hands”).
- I've never been good at sewing; I guess I've got two left hands.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see two, left, hands.
Coordinate terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
lacking dexterity in either hand
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