These expressions are used to describe cleaning tasks, and situations where cleanliness or tidiness is desired or lacking.

Cleaning Expressions

1. Wipe the slate clean
   Meaning: Start over without prejudice.
   Example: Let’s wipe the slate clean and start fresh.
2. Come clean
   Meaning: Admit the truth.
   Example: She finally came clean about the mistake.
3. In a clean state
   Meaning: In good condition or organized.
   Example: The office is in a clean state now.
4. Clean as a whistle
   Meaning: Very clean or tidy.
   Example: The kitchen is clean as a whistle.
5. Clean house
   Meaning: Get rid of unwanted things or people.
   Example: They need to clean house at that company.
6. Clean up one’s act
   Meaning: Improve behavior or performance.
   Example: He needs to clean up his act at work.
7. Wipe the floor with
   Meaning: Defeat someone easily.
   Example: They wiped the floor with their rivals.
8. Brush up on
   Meaning: Improve or refresh one’s knowledge.
   Example: He needs to brush up on his Spanish.
9. Dust off
   Meaning: Prepare something old for use.
   Example: Time to dust off my old bicycle.
10. Polish up
    Meaning: Improve or refine skills.
    Example: She polished up her piano skills.
11. Mop up
    Meaning: Finish tasks or clean mess.
    Example: We’ll mop up the spilled coffee.
12. Sweep off one’s feet
    Meaning: Impress or captivate someone greatly.
    Example: He swept her off her feet with roses.
13. Pick up the pieces
    Meaning: Recover from a setback.
    Example: She picked up the pieces after her divorce.
14. Make a clean break
    Meaning: Completely separate from something.
    Example: He made a clean break from his past.
15. Scrub up
    Meaning: Wash and clean thoroughly.
    Example: The surgeon scrubbed up before surgery.
16. Spring clean
    Meaning: Thoroughly clean a place.
    Example: I plan to spring clean my house next month.
17. Wash one’s hands of
    Meaning: Stop being involved in something.
    Example: She washed her hands of the whole issue.
18. Clean sweep
    Meaning: Win everything or remove everything.
    Example: They made a clean sweep of the tournament.
19. Squeaky clean
    Meaning: Spotlessly clean or morally upright.
    Example: Her reputation is squeaky clean.
20. Clean up the mess
    Meaning: Resolve problems or issues.
    Example: He had to clean up the mess after the scandal.