If you know someone who is deeply involved in various activities and has significant influence and authority within a specific department, you can say that he or she has hands in dough Literally means “putting your hands in the dough.”
put your hands in the dough
Intensive involvement in an activity/multiple activities
This expression presents the image of a person who not only knows what to do with “dough” (representing a business, activity, or affair), but who can also influence how the final product is made. It conveys a sense of active involvement, influence, and a hands-on approach in shaping the outcome of a situation or endeavor.
Politicians interfere in all affairs of the country.
The politician was deeply involved in all affairs of the country.
Although this idiom can be used in a positive context, it usually describes someone engaging in questionable or dishonest matters. Having dirty hands after kneading the dough implies engaging in unethical business.It is worth noting that the Italian adjective dirty (dirty) also conveys a metaphorical meaning cool or dishonest.
There is an idiomatic English expression closely related to Italian: Get your feet wet in every pie. However, it lacks the messy image of a man with his hands covered in gunk.
Heather Broster is a graduate with honors in linguistics from the University of Western Ontario. She is an aspiring polyglot, fluent in English and Italian, as well as varying degrees of fluency in Japanese, Welsh and French. Originally from Toronto, Heather has lived in several countries, notably Italy for six years. Her main research areas are language acquisition, education and bilingual teaching.
