hands off
Leave it alone
Hands off is a command to stop touching or interfering with something: Hands off my stuff!
As an adjective (usually hyphenated), hands-off describes a non-interventionist approach—a hands-off manager gives subordinates autonomy rather than micromanaging.
The opposite is hands-on.
Noninterference in commerce
- noninterferenceAbstaining from involvement
- deregulationRemoving governmental business restrictions
- abstentionFormal refusal to vote
- restraintControl over impulses
forbearance · uninvolvement · permissiveness · libertarianism · free market · self-regulation · autonomy · delegation
Prohibition against contact
- keep awayRemain at distance
- no touchingProhibition on physical contact
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
- forbiddenNot allowed
restricted · taboo · untouchable · sacrosanct · inviolable · protected · boundaries · personal space
Not taking part
- aloofEmotionally withdrawn, uninviting
- disengagedNot participating or invested
- distantFar away or aloof
- passiveNot actively participating
bystander · observer · spectator · neutral · indifferent · withdrawn · standoffish · remote
laissez-faire
Noninterference in commerce
- noninterferenceAbstaining from involvement
- deregulationRemoving governmental business restrictions
- abstentionFormal refusal to vote
restraint · forbearance · uninvolvement · permissiveness · libertarianism · free market · self-regulation · autonomy · delegation · trust
don't touch
Prohibition against contact
- keep awayRemain at distance
- no touchingProhibition on physical contact
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
forbidden · restricted · taboo · untouchable · sacrosanct · inviolable · protected · boundaries · personal space · step back
uninvolved
Not taking part
- aloofEmotionally withdrawn, uninviting
- disengagedNot participating or invested
- distantFar away or aloof
passive · bystander · observer · spectator · neutral · indifferent · withdrawn · standoffish · remote · noncommittal
- Back Offbutt out, step back, keep away, stay out, keep out
- Keep Out Signsno entry, private, no trespassing, forbidden, restricted
- caution expressionscaution, warning, beware, watch out, be careful
- dismissalsgo away, get out, leave, scram, beat it
- warningswarning, alert, caution, danger, warning sign
- expressions of disassociationnot my problem, none of my business, count me out, leave me out, not affiliated
hands offhands on
Involving active participation
micromanaging · controlling · interventionist · directive · overbearing
hands offinterventionist
Advocate for outside involvement
hands on · regulatory · activist · paternalistic · statist
off, hand, handle, handy, hands, handful, handled, handling, handed