get one's hands dirty
To get involved with the unpleasant parts of a task, such as manual labor or unethical activities.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“You need to get your hands dirty to fix the car.”
“The manager decided to get his hands dirty and help the team finish the project on time.”
“Although he preferred the comfort of his office, the director realized he had to get his hands dirty if he wanted to understand the factory's daily struggles.”
- 01
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 06
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 07
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026