mettere le mani avanti
Italian
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Literally, “to put the hands forward”.
Verb
[edit]méttere le mani avanti (first-person singular present métto le mani avanti, first-person singular past historic mìsi le mani avanti, past participle mésso le mani avanti, auxiliary avére)
- to indicate the possibility of an unsatisfactory result, implying that it is not the speaker's fault if it happens; to safeguard oneself; to play it safe