mettere le mani avanti

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “to put the hands forward”.

Verb

méttere le mani avanti (first-person singular present métto le mani avanti, first-person singular past historic mìsi le mani avanti, past participle mésso le mani avanti, auxiliary avére)

1. to indicate the possibility of an unsatisfactory result, implying that it is not the speaker's fault if it happens; to safeguard oneself; to play it safe