clean hands: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, legal, business, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “clean hands” mean?
The state of being innocent, especially regarding corruption, bribery, or unethical behaviour.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The state of being innocent, especially regarding corruption, bribery, or unethical behaviour.
A principle or doctrine, particularly in law and politics, stating that a person seeking legal redress must not themselves be guilty of wrongdoing related to the matter. Also used more generally to describe someone with unimpeachable integrity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The phrase is equally common and understood in both legal and general contexts in both varieties. No significant lexical or syntactic differences.
Connotations
Slightly more formal and archaic in everyday British use, often associated with historical or legal discourse. In American English, it is strongly associated with political ethics and anti-corruption rhetoric.
Frequency
Similar frequency in formal contexts. Possibly more frequent in American political journalism.
Grammar
How to Use “clean hands” in a Sentence
SUBJ + have + clean handswith + clean handsthe + clean hands + of + NPVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in compliance and ethics training. 'The merger will only proceed if both companies can demonstrate clean hands.'
Academic
Common in legal philosophy and political science papers discussing equity and justice. 'The clean hands doctrine bars relief to plaintiffs with unclean morals.'
Everyday
Used to assert moral high ground, often ironically. 'I can criticise the plan; I have clean hands in this matter.'
Technical
A specific equitable maxim in common law: 'He who comes into equity must come with clean hands.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “clean hands”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “clean hands”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clean hands”
- Using it as an adjective (*'He is a clean hands politician.'). Correct: 'He is a politician with clean hands.'
- Using a singular form (*'clean hand').
- Misapplying it to literal hygiene contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is exclusively an idiom/metaphor. For literal cleanliness, you would say 'clean hands' but without the definite article or metaphorical weight (e.g., 'Go and get your clean hands dirty in the garden.').
Yes, it is a fundamental equitable principle in both common law systems, though its application can vary in specific case law.
'Dirty hands' is the direct antonym. Related idioms include 'soil one's hands', 'have blood on one's hands', and 'be caught red-handed'.
Yes, the idiom is commonly applied to collective entities like corporations, governments, or institutions to describe their ethical standing.
The state of being innocent, especially regarding corruption, bribery, or unethical behaviour.
Clean hands is usually formal, legal, business, journalistic in register.
Clean hands: in British English it is pronounced /kliːn hændz/, and in American English it is pronounced /klin hændz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “come to court with clean hands”
- “keep one's hands clean”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a judge refusing to shake hands with a lawyer whose hands are visibly dirty – symbolising the court's refusal to help someone involved in wrongdoing.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORALITY IS CLEANLINESS / IMMORALITY IS DIRT. This is part of a widespread metaphor system where ethical behaviour is conceptualised as physical purity.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'clean hands' MOST likely to be used literally?