have blood on one's hands
To be responsible for a violent act.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The criminal has blood on his hands after the robbery.”
“The general refused to accept the peace treaty because he knew he had blood on his hands from the war.”
“Although he claimed to be a man of peace, the dictator could not hide the fact that he had blood on his hands from the recent uprising.”
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abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
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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.
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air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
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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