# wash oneself of

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/wash-oneself-of
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To stop caring about (something); to reject any semblance of (something).

## Examples

- I wash my hands of this messy situation.
- After the team ignored his advice for the third time, he decided to wash his hands of the entire project.
- The manager chose to wash his hands of the scandal, claiming he had no knowledge of the unethical practices occurring within his department.

## Origin

From wash one's hands of.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.