Expressions with the word “clean” are commonly used in English. They can enhance your language skills and help you sound more fluent. Here are 20 idioms and phrasal verbs with “clean,” along with their meanings and example sentences.
Expressions with Clean
1. Clean up
Meaning: Tidy a place.
Example: We need to clean up the room.
2. Clean out
Meaning: Empty a space.
Example: I need to clean out my closet.
3. Clean off
Meaning: Remove dirt from a surface.
Example: Please clean off the table.
4. Clean sweep
Meaning: Complete and thorough victory.
Example: They made a clean sweep in the elections.
5. Clean break
Meaning: Complete separation.
Example: He made a clean break from his past.
6. Clean bill of health
Meaning: A report confirming good health.
Example: She received a clean bill of health from the doctor.
7. Clean as a whistle
Meaning: Very clean or clear.
Example: The kitchen is clean as a whistle now.
8. Clean slate
Meaning: Starting anew without past problems.
Example: They decided to start with a clean slate.
9. Clean up one’s act
Meaning: Improve behavior or performance.
Example: He needs to clean up his act at work.
10. Clean house
Meaning: Remove unnecessary items or people.
Example: They decided to clean the house before moving.
11. Clean living
Meaning: Healthy and moral lifestyle.
Example: She believes in clean living and exercise.
12. Clean the air
Meaning: Resolve a misunderstanding.
Example: We need to clean the air between us.
13. Clean someone’s clock
Meaning: Defeat someone decisively.
Example: He cleaned my clock in chess.
14. Come clean
Meaning: Tell the truth.
Example: She decided to come clean about the mistake.
15. Make a clean breast of it
Meaning: Confess fully.
Example: He made a clean breast of his wrongdoings.
16. Clean-cut
Meaning: Neat and respectable appearance.
Example: He looks very clean-cut in his suit.
17. Clean out someone’s pockets
Meaning: Take all someone’s money.
Example: The taxes cleaned out his pockets.
18. Clean sweep (again)
Meaning: Thorough removal of something.
Example: The new manager made a clean sweep of old policies.
19. Clean break (again)
Meaning: Clear, complete separation.
Example: They decided on a clean break from old traditions.
20. Clean bill
Meaning: Certificate of satisfactory condition.
Example: The car received a clean bill of health.
