Definition & Meaning of "the right (hand) does not know what the left (hand) is doing"

the right (hand) does not know what the left (hand) is doing

used to refer to the lack of communication between the different parts of an organization about their roles or activities that leads to confusion and dysfunction

Idiom

Informal

What is the origin of the idiom "the right does not know what the left is doing" and when to use it?

The idiom "the right does not know what the left is doing" is a biblical reference that appears in the New Testament, specifically in the book of Matthew. It is typically used to describe a situation where there is a lack of coordination or communication among different parts of an organization or group.