Idioms

wash your hands of something

This page is about the idiom wash your hands of something

Meaning

If you wash your hands of something that you were involved in, you decide to stop being involved in it after losing your interest or belief in it.

For example

  • She washed her hands of the whole project after she found out that people had been stealing donated money.

  • Jim washed his hands of politics long ago after realising how corrupt most politicians were.

Quick Quiz

Many sponsors washed their hands of the sport of cycling because

a. they cut their advertising budgets

b. of drug use among the cyclists

c. cycling was becoming more popular
a) they cut their advertising budgets b) of drug use among the cyclists c) cycling was becoming more popular

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey