[Idiom] WASH ONE'S HANDS OF IT. - Learn How to Express Disassociation with Clever Linguistic Phrases
Wash one's hands of it.
To refuse or stop being responsible for something.
When someone says they are going to "wash their hands of it," they are expressing a deliberate decision to stop being responsible for something or disassociate themselves from an action or problem. This idiom comes from the act of washing hands being symbolic of cleanliness and ridding oneself of dirt or, figuratively, of unwanted responsibilities or dilemmas.
Example Sentences
He washed his hands of the whole affair.
He decided to completely dissociate himself from the whole affair.
She decided to wash her hands of it and move on.
She chose to move on and leave the situation behind.
After the scandal, the company washed their hands of the executive.
After the scandal, the company completely cut ties with the executive.