wash (one's) hands of (someone or something)
wash (one's) hands of (someone or something)
1. To absolve oneself of or distance oneself from responsibility for something. I don't want to be part of this scheme any more. I wash my hands of it.
2. To renounce, abandon, or distance oneself from someone or something. The director famously hated the final cut of the movie and has washed his hands of it, even going so far as to remove his name from the project. I'm afraid that if I tell my parents what I've done, they will wash their hands of me.
See also: hand, of, wash
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
wash one's hands of someone or something
Fig. to end one's association with someone or something. (Fig. on the notion of getting rid of a problem by removing it as if it were dirt on the hands.) I washed my hands of Tom. I wanted no more to do with him. That car was a real headache. I washed my hands of it long ago.
See also: hand, of, wash
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
wash one's hands of
Refuse to accept responsibility for; abandon or renounce. For example, I've done all I can for him, and now I'm washing my hands of him. This expression alludes to Pontius Pilate's washing his hands before having Jesus put to death, saying "I am innocent of the blood of this just person" (Matthew 27:24).
See also: hand, of, wash
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
wash your hands of something/someone
COMMON If you wash your hands of a problem or a person who causes problems, you refuse to be involved with them or to take responsibility for them any longer. `If Charles was my patient I would wash my hands of him,' said specialist Dr George Raine. The state cannot wash its hands of responsibility for these prisoners. Note: According to the Bible, Pontius Pilate washed his hands in a bowl to show that he would not take responsibility for the death sentence which the public demanded he should pass on Jesus. (Matthew 27:24)
See also: hand, of, someone, something, wash
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
wash your hands of
disclaim responsibility for.This phrase originally alluded to the biblical description of Pontius Pilate, who, when he was forced to condemn Jesus to death, sent for a bowl of water and ritually washed his hands before the crowd as a sign that he was innocent of ‘this just person’ (Matthew 27:24).
See also: hand, of, wash
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
wash your ˈhands of somebody/something
refuse to deal with or be responsible for somebody/something any longer: After the way she’s behaved, I’m never going to help her again! I wash my hands of her! I can’t just wash my hands of the whole business. I’ve got responsibilities.This idiom refers to Pontius Pilate in the Bible, who refused to take a decision about what should happen to Jesus.See also: hand, of, somebody, something, wash
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
wash (one's) hands of
1. To refuse to accept responsibility for: He washed his hands of the matter.
2. To abandon; renounce: They have washed their hands of him.
See also: hand, of, wash
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- wash hands of
- wash one's hands of
- wash your hands of
- wash your hands of somebody/something
- wash your hands of something/someone
- keep (someone or something) in sight
- keep in sight
- keep sight of
- keep sight of (someone or something)
- keep sight of somebody/something