noun
with hands behind one's back
Describes the posture of having one's hands clasped or held behind the back. Often used with verbs like 組む, 回す, 縛る.
彼は後ろ手を組んで歩いていた。
He was walking with his hands clasped behind his back.
犯人は後ろ手に縛られていた。
The criminal was tied with his hands behind his back.
noun
Refers to the space or direction behind someone or something. Often used in set phrases like 後ろ手に回る (to go behind).
彼は後ろ手に回って、こっそり抜け出した。
He slipped out quietly by going around behind.
後ろ is a general word for 'behind' or 'back', while 後ろ手 specifically involves the hands or the area behind a person in a more limited, often postural sense.
Compound of 後ろ (ushiro, 'behind') and 手 (te, 'hand'), with rendaku voicing of て to で. The literal meaning is 'hand(s) behind the back'.