dirty one’s hands—
1. get involved with routine and practical work:
- He is easily approachable, and willing to dirty his hands doing the work he has been elected to do.
2. do smth. that one considers unpleasant or distasteful:
- These are people with more secure jobs who have never had to dirty their hands to earn a living.
3. do smth. shameful or illegal:
- Tolentino is loyal, brutal, knows how to keep secrets and is ready to dirty his hands for his boss.
have clean hands—be free from guilt or dishonesty:
- Many Republicans realized that the party could not win unless the nominee had clean hands.