B2 — Upper Intermediate💼 Work & Money
Mettere le mani avanti
To cover one's back / to hedge one's bets
Literal Translation
"To put one's hands forward"
What it means
To take precautions or make excuses in advance to avoid blame
Example in context
"Prima di firmare il contratto, il legale ha messo le mani avanti."
"Before signing the contract, the lawyer covered his back."
Want to practice Italian?
Take a free placement test and start with grammar exercises.