dirty one's hands v. phr. To lower or hurt one's character or good name; do a bad or shameful thing. 
 The teacher warned the children not to dirty their hands by cheating in the examination.
 The teacher warned the children not to dirty their hands by cheating in the examination.  I would not soil my hands by going with bad people and doing bad things.
 I would not soil my hands by going with bad people and doing bad things.  [TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲