What is the meaning of the phrase" have clean hands"?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The phrase "have clean hands" means to be innocent or guiltless. It is a metaphor that suggests that someone has not been involved in any wrongdoing. The phrase is thought to have originated in the 16th century, when people would wash their hands before eating to symbolize that they were clean and pure.
The answer is (3) innocent.
The other options are incorrect.
- (1) washing hands does not fit the meaning of the phrase. Washing hands is a physical act, while having clean hands is a metaphor for being innocent.
- (2) stealing without getting caught does not fit the meaning of the phrase. Someone who steals without getting caught is still guilty of wrongdoing, even if they are not caught.
- (4) doubtful does not fit the meaning of the phrase. Someone who is doubtful is not sure about something, while someone who has clean hands is sure that they are innocent.