keep (one's) hands off (something or someone)

1. To refrain from touching or handling (something or someone). (Usually said imperatively.) You kids keep your hands off those cookies, they're for after dinner! I have every right to be on this property, so keep your hands off me! That television is brand new, so keep your hands off!

2. To refrain from becoming involved with or attempting to take or control (something or someone). (Usually said imperatively.) That rotten bank had better keep its hands off my land! Listen, buddy, keep your hands off my sister, you hear?

keep one's hands off (something)

to refrain from touching or handling something. I'm going to put these cookies here. You keep your hands off them. Get your hands off my book, and keep them off.

See also: hand, keep, off

See also:

References in classic literature

They sailed their vessels right into the lagoon and proceeded to preach the white man's gospel that only white men shall kill white men and that the lesser breeds must keep hands off. The schooners sailed up and down the lagoon, harrying and destroying.

View in context

Miley Cyrus and Kaitlynn Carter 'couldn't keep hands off each other' in LA club

Harvey Weinstein tries to get trial moved from New York because it's a 'circus'; Disgraced movie mogul Weinstein, 67, is charged with raping a woman in 2013 and performing a forcible sex act on a different woman in 2006

In cases where political remedies are available, Magnuson indicated, the political-question doctrine directs courts to keep hands off. I dont think that you can enjoin the Senate, Magnuson said.

Judge hears arguments in Fischbach case

KEEP HANDS OFF Touching and twirling hair causes breakage, frizz and extra oil production.

Hair: your guide to locks you'll love ..

The new automated parallel parking system for the new i3 allows the driver to keep hands off the wheel and feet off the pedals while the car parks itself.

BMW rolls out automated parallel parking feature for i3 with push-button

"Unless this epidemic of crime is stopped, until we act together to keep hands off our church roofs, the place of churches in our society will never be the same again."

Campaign to clamp down on church metal thefts; High-tech alarm idea for rooftops

The bold demonstration of true sentiments of friendship and brotherhood between the people of Pakistan and China, even China telling US 'keep hands off Pakistan', specially at a time when wrinkles have appeared in our relationship with the US after its unilateral operation in Abbotabad, was enough to give us a sigh of relief that we have a friend indeed who is always ready to help us.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - PAK-SINO INTIMACY TOUCHING NEW HEIGHTS

Whatever the agreement that he would keep hands off, Mr.

T&G's brush with John Birch

Still--notwithstanding California's recent follies-should the nation refuse help, keep hands off? California accounts for 12 percent of our national population.

California's agony can't be ignored

The first group wants Barack Obama to keep hands off. It's a hopeless quagmire, they say; presidents who've messed with the process have come up empty-handed and made America look ineffectual.

Taming Israel's Jewish extremists

The good news is they are vowing to keep hands off (which is much easier to do now than it will be down the road).

Life after Wall Street: private ownership of newspapers has its charms, and no shortage of pitfalls

Should they keep hands off? Absolutely not, says Jan Resseger of the United Church of Christ (UCC).

Pulpit chorus: 'fix NCLB'

After discussing the revised scenario with game officials, who agreed to go along, Frantz told his quarterback to give Jake the ball while DeWitt instructed his defense to keep hands off Jake.

Magical moment. (The Goodness of America)