词源趣谈 | wash one's hands of something 推卸对……的责任

wash one's hands of something 指推卸一切责任。比如：

• If you won't listen to me, I'll wash my hands of you.
  你不听我的话，我就不过问你的事了。

这一表达源自《钦定版圣经》中《马太福音》第27章第24节：

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
彼拉多见说也无济于事，反要生乱，就拿水在众人面前洗手，说，流这义人的血，罪不在我，你们承当吧。

本丢·彼拉多通过洗手以示自己与百姓的意愿相背，并不愿意把耶稣送上刑架。