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