hands-off
- adjective
- /ˈhændzˌɔf/
- During the Reagan presidency, the United States Justice Department adopted a hands-off approach to enforcing states to comply with desegregation mandates.
- hands-off approach
- hands-off policy
- hands-off contract
But it's nice for a little more hands off autopilot operation.
- But it's nice for a little more hands off autopilot operation.
- So I'd probably need to be hands off, I don't think.
- I was telling you before where I was much more hands off and we were successful.
- Well, the reason why that yeah, yeah, I'm very much hands off with this whole situation now I've.
- The funny thing is the funding agencies were pretty hands off.
- So, you know, crackpot, you can get some tasty food, mostly hands off a trust, way more hands on.
Examples
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As a manager, I believe in a hands-off style, allowing my team to work independently.
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Small government, free markets, and a hands off, laissez faire approach.
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I was telling you before where I was much more hands off and we were successful.
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I plan on being a very hands-off owner.
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Did the local health system need strong supervision, or was a more hands-off approach possible?
Academic text (2003) -
Since those decisions, the Supreme Court has generally taken a "hands-off" approach to judicial review of federal and state economic legislation.
Academic text (2016) -
Not only was the Internet booming, but the government seemed to be taking a hands-off approach to the World Wide Web.
Academic text (2003) -
At first, both MITI and the Foreign Ministry took a hands-off stance.
Academic text (1991) -
I was sure Uncle Phillip and Aunt Lucy had long ago resigned themselves to a general hands-off policy.
Fiction book (1996) -
Some parents prefer a hands-off approach, trusting their children to make their own decisions.
Synonyms
Not taking part in an activity or situation
Not taking part in something, for example a meeting or argument
Not involved in an activity or argument
Antonyms
How Involved
Surface Forms
Morphology
hands-off = hands + off (transparent) = hands + off
The adjective is a straightforward compound of 'hands' + 'off' meaning 'not intervening', which learners can derive from the base words.
Etymology
The word hands-off comes from the quick shout hands off, which people use to mean 'do not touch' or 'stay away'. So, a hands-off approach is when you do not get involved or interfere.