clean hands

noun

1. freedom from guilt, wrongdoing, or dishonesty; innocence; guiltlessness.

   He came out of the bribery investigation triumphantly when it was proved that he had clean hands.

Word History and Origins

Origin of clean hands¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

And one of the fundamental rules of equity, as Sotomayor explains, is that you have to seek it with clean hands.

From Slate

Boluarte had insisted she entered government "with clean hands" and that she would "leave it with clean hands", claiming her Rolex was an old item that she bought with the proceeds of working since she was 18.

From BBC

Officials say it can be used only to clean hands if it’s completely unheated.

From Los Angeles Times

In war, there are no clean hands.

From Los Angeles Times

Allen smeared election officials as lacking “clean hands,” maligning them for the crime of following the law as written.

From Slate

Related Words

• fresh start www.thesaurus.com