hands-off

[ handz-awf, -of ]

adjective

1. characterized by nonintervention or noninterference:

   the new hands-off foreign policy.

2. remote or unfriendly; estranging:

   a truculent, hands-off manner toward strangers.

hands-off

adjective

1. (of a machine, device, etc) without need of manual operation
2. denoting a policy, etc, of deliberate noninvolvement

   a hands-off strategy towards industry

Word History and Origins

Origin of hands-off¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Idioms and Phrases

An order to stop touching or interfering with something, as in Hands off the cake, children! This idiom is also put as keep one's hands off , as in She knew she had to keep her hands off so he could learn to tie his shoes by himself . [Mid-1500s]

Example Sentences

“I never call me a hands-off owner,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

The more hands-off approach favored by Trump could aid such medical device developers.

From Los Angeles Times

That hands-off approach is likely to continue under Trump because requiring certain states to accept painful cutbacks may be politically unpalatable, Gold said.

From Los Angeles Times

Alan’s hands-off approach has allowed him to see more than his shop counter for the past few years.

From BBC

In recent years, McKenna has become more hands-off, trusting the superintendent in charge.

From Los Angeles Times