Wash your hands before you touch the food.

Meaning: This means to clean your hands with water and soap before you put your hands on the food.

Choice of Words: Wash means to clean something with water and soap. Hands are the parts of the body at the end of the arms that you use to hold things. Before means earlier in time or order. Touch means to put your hand or a part of your body on something.

Alternative Expressions

Clean your hands before you handle the food.

Meaning: This also means to clean your hands with water and soap before you touch the food you are going to eat. It's important to do this to prevent germs from getting on the food and making you sick.

Choice of Words: Clean is another word for wash. Handle means to touch or hold something. When you put them together, "Clean your hands before you handle the food" is a similar instruction to the first sentence, but it emphasizes the importance of cleaning your hands before touching the food.

Make sure your hands are clean before you touch the food.

Meaning: This means to be absolutely certain that your hands are clean with water and soap before you touch the food you are going to eat. It's important to do this to prevent germs from getting on the food and making you sick.

Choice of Words: Make sure means to be certain of something. Clean means free from dirt or germs. When you put them together, "Make sure your hands are clean before you touch the food" is a more emphatic instruction that highlights the importance of having clean hands before handling food.

Related Expressions