dishpan hands

English

Etymology

Possibly coined circa mid-1920s for the advertising of Lever Brothers "Lux" brand dishwashing soap.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Noun

dishpan hands pl (plural only)

1. (idiomatic) Hands which are rough, reddish, and dry, as from irritation and chafing caused by immersion in hot water mixed with detergent.
   • 2007 February 18, H. E. Thomas, M. Thomas, “5 Ways to Combat Cold-Weather Hands”, in Washington Post, retrieved 30 July 2009:

     Avoid dishpan hands. Those 1950s sitcom moms had it right (and probably had lovely hands): Wear rubber gloves while cleaning and doing dishes.

Translations

rough hands

• Swedish: skurhänder pl

References

• “dishpan hands”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.