lavarsene le mani

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “to wash the hands of it”. Compare French se laver les mains.

Verb

lavàrsene le mani (pronominal, first-person singular present me ne làvo le mani, first-person singular past historic me ne lavài le mani, past participle lavàto le mani)

1. (idiomatic) to wash one's hands [with di ‘of someone/something’]
   • 2013, chapter 3, in F. Scott Fitzgerald, translated by Ferruccio Russo, Il Grande Gatsby [The Great Gatsby], Edizioni Scientifiche e Artistiche, page 85:

     «Non lo chieda a me», disse Occhi-di-Gufo lavandosene le mani dell'intera faccenda.

     "Don't ask me," said Owl Eyes, washing his hands of the whole matter.

     (literally, “"Don't ask me," said Eyes-of-Owl, washing his hands of the entire matter.”)