clean hands

American  

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.

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Etymology

Origin of clean hands

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

clean hands

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

From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2025

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 31, 2025

The rough hands of a slave, the clean hands of a prince, the wrinkled hands of an old man who has seen so much.

From Salon ● Dec. 23, 2023

Raffi Ivker, a Jewish student at George Washington University, said he believed neither side "has clean hands."

From Reuters ● Oct. 18, 2023

A man with strong clean hands would never look at me in love.

From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson

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