keep (one's) hands clean
keep (one's) hands clean
To keep a distance from or avoid becoming involved with something that is or might be considered unsavory, immoral, illicit, or illegal. You're not going to get very far in this business if you're worrying about keeping your hands clean. She always kept her hands clean during her campaigns, avoiding the smear tactics and mud slinging so common in the political world.
See also: clean, hand, keep
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- (one's) hands are clean
- someone's hands are clean
- not put (something) past (one)
- not put it past someone
- not put something past someone
- put past
- a bad lot
- bad lot
- bad bunch
- the weed of crime bears bitter fruit