Phrase guide

have blood on one's hands

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To be responsible for a violent act.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, often, sarcastic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 負有血債 /负有血债 (fùyǒu xuèzhài) — be responsible for a violent act
  • Dutch: bloed aan zijn handen hebben — be responsible for a violent act
  • Finnish: olla verta käsissään — be responsible for a violent act
  • French: avoir du sang sur les mains — be responsible for a violent act
  • Norwegian Bokmål: ha blod på hendene — be responsible for a violent act
  • Polish: mieć krew na rękach — be responsible for a violent act
  • Portuguese: ter sangue nas mãos — be responsible for a violent act
  • Swedish: ha blod på sina händer — be responsible for a violent act
  • Turkish: ellerinde kan olmak — be responsible for a violent act