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# wash my hands

phrase (verb phrase, «wash my/your hands», «wash one's hands»; wash, washes, washed, washing)

«wash my hands» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism, polite) go to the toilet: «Excuse me, I'll just wash my hands.»
2. (literal) clean your hands with soap and water.
3. «wash one's hands of something» = refuse any more responsibility for it.

### In the lessons

A delicate, polite way to excuse yourself to the toilet, especially in restaurants or as a guest; the literal sense is daily hygiene advice at school. The idiom «wash my hands of it» means «I'm done with it».

### Examples

- (restaurant) Excuse me, I'm just going to wash my hands.
- (host) "Where can I wash my hands?" "Second door on the left."
- (school) Always wash your hands before lunch.
- (science) Wash your hands for 20 seconds to remove germs.
- (idiom) I wash my hands of this silly plan.
- (chat) washing my hands of that group chat
- (nurse) Wash your hands after using the toilet.

### Note

Trap: usually literal. «Wash one's hands of» = stop caring or helping, an old Bible-story idiom. As a euphemism it is very polite.