IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchS'en laver les mains
Meaning: To disclaim all responsibility for an outcome.
Literally: To wash one's hands of it
Example: “Si le projet échoue, je m'en lave les mains : je vous avais prévenus.” — If the project fails, I wash my hands of it: I warned you.
English equivalent: To wash one's hands of something
Equivalents in other languages
English: Origin: From Pilate washing his hands before the crowd in Matthew's gospel. The gesture in the text is a claim of innocence, and the phrase has kept the suspicion that it does not work.
More French idioms
- Des yeux de merlan frit A soppy, languishing look.
- Payer en monnaie de singe To pay with worthless promises instead of money.
- La montagne accouche d'une souris A vast effort or grand announcement produces something trivial.
- La mouche du coche Someone who bustles importantly while contributing nothing.
- On n'attrape pas les mouches avec du vinaigre Gentleness achieves what harshness cannot.
- Prendre la mouche To take sudden and disproportionate offense.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- À beau jeu, beau retour You get back what you give; good treatment earns good treatment.
- Le singe est toujours singe, fût-il vêtu de pourpre Finery can't change someone's true nature.
- Vent au visage rend un homme sage Hardship makes a person wiser.
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