Blood on hands

Meaning

The idiom "blood on hands" refers to a situation where someone is responsible for a crime or a wrongdoing that has caused harm or damage to others. It implies that the person has committed an act of violence or aggression that has left physical evidence in the form of blood stains.

Usage

• "The prosecutor claimed that there was blood on the defendant's hands, which proved his involvement in the murder."
• "The president apologized for the mistakes made by her administration, saying 'I have blood on my hands.'"
• "The teacher was fired after being accused of assaulting one of her students, leaving blood on his shirt."
• "I can't believe I let this happen. It's all on my hands now."
• "The company's profits have been declining for years, and it's the CEO who has blood on his hands."

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom "blood on one's hands" dates back to ancient times when people believed that the blood of an innocent person could be seen as a stain on the guilty party's hands. The expression was first used in literature in the 17th century, with William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet" being one of the earliest examples. In contemporary language, the idiom is commonly associated with moral responsibility and accountability for one's actions.

Synonyms in English

• "The evidence against him was strong enough to put blood on his hands."
• "She made a mistake that cost her job, and now she has blood on her hands."
• "I feel guilty about what happened. It's all on me now."

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: "Tener sangre en las manos" (to have blood on one's hands)
• French: "Avoir du sang dans les mains" (to have blood on one's hands)
• German: "Blut auf die Hände haben" (to have blood on one's hands)
• Italian: "Avere il sangue sulle mani" (to have blood on one's hands)

Similar Idioms

• bitter pill

• hang up

• blood, sweat, and tears