wash one’s hands of something

(verb) to say that you are no longer responsible for something

Example Sentences:

Boss: Did you finish that report I asked for?
Employee: You didn’t ask me, you asked someone else to do it.
Boss: No, it is your responsibility.
Employee: Well I wash my hands of it. You didn’t tell me to do it, so it’s not my responsibility.
Boss: You’re fired.

The baby-sitter washed her hands of her responsibilities when the children refused to go to bed on time.

The drug-addict’s friends are washing their hands of him, because they were forced to pick him up from jail late at night.

Media:

Similar idioms:

1. make it in
2. eat crow
3. take someone under one’s wing
4. clamp down on something
5. get up on the wrong side of the bed
6. eat humble pie
7. take a dig at someone
8. tie someone down
9. leave it to me
10. breakdown (2)