wash hands of
Refuse further involvement
To wash one's hands of something is to renounce responsibility for it, refusing further involvement: I've washed my hands of the whole project.
The expression comes from the biblical account of Pontius Pilate symbolically washing his hands to disclaim responsibility for Jesus's crucifixion.
It implies deliberate disengagement after frustration or moral objection.
- abandonLeave behind permanently
- give upStop attempting something
- disownReject connection to
- renounceFormally give up
- abdicateFormally renounce authority
reject · disavow · Pontius Pilate · Pilate · basin · soap · towel · guilt · blame · responsibility · not my problem · detach · distance · back away · turn away · quit · forsake · leave behind
- Biblical ExpressionsGarden of Eden, David and Goliath, Good Samaritan, prodigal son, forbidden fruit
- laundrydryer, clothes dryer, fold, rinse, spin cycle
- giving upgive up, giving up, quit, quitting, surrender
- rejectionrejection, reject, denial, refuse, refusal
wash hands ofown up to
take the blame · shoulder the burden · answer for · stand behind · embrace
wash hands ofstand by
Remain ready to assist
stick with · see through · back · support · champion
wash, washes, washed, washing, washer, washable, hand, hands, handed