having blood on one's hands
Responsible for death
Having blood on one's hands means bearing responsibility for someone's death or serious harm, whether directly or through negligence.
The phrase carries strong moral weight—it suggests guilt that can't easily be washed away: The general has blood on his hands for ordering the strike.
Extended uses apply to any grave wrongdoing: Every politician who voted for that bill has blood on their hands.
- murderDeliberate unlawful killing
- complicityShared criminal involvement
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- guilty conscienceSelf-blame for wrongdoing
moral burden · Lady Macbeth · manslaughter · atrocity · wrongdoing · shame · atonement · seeking forgiveness · making amends · killing · perpetration · cruelty · accountability · bloodshed · forgiveness · redemption · massacre · blameworthiness
having blood on one's handsinnocent
Free from moral wrong
blameless · guiltless · not guilty · free from blame · absolved