Cleanliness is a virtue celebrated across cultures and languages. In the realm of language, idioms provide unique expressions to convey the concept of being clean, pure, or free from contamination.
These idioms allow us to describe not only physical cleanliness but also moral purity and a fresh start.
Join us on this linguistic journey to understand how we use idiomatic expressions to celebrate cleanliness and purity in everyday communication.
What is an idiom for clean?
Idioms for clean are expressions used to convey the idea of purity, neatness, or starting fresh.
These idioms go beyond the literal meaning of cleanliness and often have broader implications.
Let’s dive into these idiomatic expressions, explore their meanings, and see how they can be used in sentences.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Clean as a whistle | Completely clean, pure, or flawless. | After a thorough wash, the car was clean as a whistle, with no dirt or smudges. |
| Clean slate | A fresh start with no past mistakes or obligations. | After serving his sentence, he was given a clean slate and the opportunity to rebuild his life. |
| Clean break | To end a relationship or situation completely and decisively. | She decided to make a clean break from her toxic job and start a new career. |
| Clean house | To thoroughly clean and organize a space, often referring to a cleaning spree. | We spent the weekend cleaning house and decluttering every room. |
| Clean bill of health | A report indicating that someone is in good physical condition or free from illness. | After the medical checkup, the doctor gave her a clean bill of health. |
| Clean sweep | To win or achieve complete success in every aspect of a competition or endeavor. | The team made a clean sweep of the championship, winning every game. |
| Clean hands | To have no involvement in dishonest or illegal activities. | The CEO made sure to keep his hands clean and avoid any unethical business practices. |
| Clean cut | Having a neat and tidy appearance, often with well-groomed hair and attire. | He always maintained a clean-cut appearance for job interviews. |
| Clean up your act | To improve one’s behavior or performance, especially in situations where mistakes or problems have occurred. | After several warnings, he decided to clean up his act and become a more responsible employee. |
| Clean as a hound’s tooth | Extremely clean, with no trace of dirt or impurities. | The kitchen was clean as a hound’s tooth after a thorough cleaning. |
| Clean out | To empty or remove all contents from a space, often for cleaning or organizing. | We had to clean out the garage to make space for the new bicycles. |
| Clean as a pin | Neat and tidy, with no disarray or clutter. | Her office desk was always clean as a pin, with everything in its place. |
| Clean out of house and home | To take or use up everything, leaving nothing behind. | The hungry teenagers cleaned out the refrigerator, leaving no food for the rest of the family. |
| Clean as a new pin | In perfect condition, looking new and pristine. | After the renovation, the old house looked clean as a new pin. |
| Clean the slate | To start fresh and forget past mistakes or grievances. | They decided to clean the slate and reconcile after their argument. |
| Clean as a sheet | Completely clean and spotless, like a freshly washed sheet. | The laundry detergent left the clothes clean as a sheet, with no stains or odors. |
| Clean the deck | To remove obstacles or clutter from a situation or environment. | Before the party, we had to clean the deck and arrange the outdoor furniture. |
| Clean as a daisy | To be in excellent health or condition, often used to describe a person’s appearance. | After a good night’s sleep, she woke up feeling clean as a daisy. |
| Clean as a button | Neat and orderly, with no visible imperfections. | The student’s homework was always clean as a button, with neatly written answers. |
| Clean as a mirror | Reflecting light and images perfectly, with no smudges or dirt. | After wiping the glass, the window was clean as a mirror, offering a clear view. |
| Clean as a fish | To be completely clean, especially after bathing or washing. | After swimming in the river, he emerged clean as a fish. |
| Clean the kitchen sink | To clean every nook and cranny of a space, leaving nothing untouched. | She decided to clean the kitchen sink, including the hidden corners and under the appliances. |
| Clean as a baby’s bottom | To be incredibly clean and smooth, with no blemishes or imperfections. | After the spa treatment, her skin felt clean as a baby’s bottom. |
| Clean as a spring lamb | To be innocent and free from wrongdoing, often used to describe someone’s character. | Despite the accusations, she remained clean as a spring lamb, with no evidence of wrongdoing. |
Cleanliness is like a clear, pristine lake, reflecting the purity and freshness of its surroundings. If you’re looking for more comparisons to describe something as clean, you can check this link: Similes for clean. And for a variety of metaphors related to cleanliness, you can explore this link: Metaphors for clean.
Idioms for Clean
1. Clean as a whistle
Meaning: To be completely clean, pure, or without any marks or flaws.
In a Sentence: After a thorough wash, the car was clean as a whistle, with no dirt or smudges.
2. Clean slate
Meaning: A fresh start with no past mistakes or obligations.
In a Sentence: After serving his sentence, he was given a clean slate and the opportunity to rebuild his life.
3. Clean break
Meaning: To end a relationship or situation completely and decisively.
In a Sentence: She decided to make a clean break from her toxic job and start a new career.
4. Clean house
Meaning: To thoroughly clean and organize a space, often referring to a cleaning spree.
In a Sentence: We spent the weekend cleaning house and decluttering every room.
5. Clean bill of health
Meaning: A report indicating that someone is in good physical condition or free from illness.
In a Sentence: After the medical checkup, the doctor gave her a clean bill of health.
6. Clean sweep
Meaning: To win or achieve complete success in every aspect of a competition or endeavor.
In a Sentence: The team made a clean sweep of the championship, winning every game.
7. Clean hands
Meaning: To have no involvement in dishonest or illegal activities.
In a Sentence: The CEO made sure to keep his hands clean and avoid any unethical business practices.
8. Clean cut
Meaning: Having a neat and tidy appearance, often with well-groomed hair and attire.
In a Sentence: He always maintained a clean-cut appearance for job interviews.
9. Clean up your act
Meaning: To improve one’s behavior or performance, especially in situations where mistakes or problems have occurred.
In a Sentence: After several warnings, he decided to clean up his act and become a more responsible employee.
10. Clean as a hound’s tooth
Meaning: Extremely clean, with no trace of dirt or impurities.
In a Sentence: The kitchen was clean as a hound’s tooth after a thorough cleaning.
11. Clean out
Meaning: To empty or remove all contents from a space, often for cleaning or organizing.
In a Sentence: We had to clean out the garage to make space for the new bicycles.
12. Clean as a pin
Meaning: Neat and tidy, with no disarray or clutter.
In a Sentence: Her office desk was always clean as a pin, with everything in its place.
13. Clean out of house and home
Meaning: To take or use up everything, leaving nothing behind.
In a Sentence: The hungry teenagers cleaned out the refrigerator, leaving no food for the rest of the family.
14. Clean as a new pin
Meaning: In perfect condition, looking new and pristine.
In a Sentence: After the renovation, the old house looked clean as a new pin.
15. Clean the slate
Meaning: To start fresh and forget past mistakes or grievances.
In a Sentence: They decided to clean the slate and reconcile after their argument.
16. Clean as a sheet
Meaning: Completely clean and spotless, like a freshly washed sheet.
In a Sentence: The laundry detergent left the clothes clean as a sheet, with no stains or odors.
17. Clean the deck
Meaning: To remove obstacles or clutter from a situation or environment.
In a Sentence: Before the party, we had to clean the deck and arrange the outdoor furniture.
18. Clean as a daisy
Meaning: To be in excellent health or condition, often used to describe a person’s appearance.
In a Sentence: After a good night’s sleep, she woke up feeling clean as a daisy.
19. Clean as a button
Meaning: Neat and orderly, with no visible imperfections.
In a Sentence: The student’s homework was always clean as a button, with neatly written answers.
20. Clean as a mirror
Meaning: Reflecting light and images perfectly, with no smudges or dirt.
In a Sentence: After wiping the glass, the window was clean as a mirror, offering a clear view.
21. Clean as a fish
Meaning: To be completely clean, especially after bathing or washing.
In a Sentence: After swimming in the river, he emerged clean as a fish.
22. Clean the kitchen sink
Meaning: To clean every nook and cranny of a space, leaving nothing untouched.
In a Sentence: She decided to clean the kitchen sink, including the hidden corners and under the appliances.
23. Clean up your act (repeat)
Meaning: To improve one’s behavior or performance, especially in situations where mistakes or problems have occurred.
In a Sentence: After several warnings, she decided to clean up her act and become a more responsible student.
24. Clean as a baby’s bottom
Meaning: To be incredibly clean and smooth, with no blemishes or imperfections.
In a Sentence: After the spa treatment, her skin felt clean as a baby’s bottom.
25. Clean as a spring lamb
Meaning: To be innocent and free from wrongdoing, often used to describe someone’s character.
In a Sentence: Despite the accusations, she remained clean as a spring lamb, with no evidence of wrongdoing.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Quiz 1:
- What does the idiom “Clean slate” mean?
a) A fresh start with no past mistakes or obligations.
b) To thoroughly clean and organize a space.
c) To end a relationship amicably.
Quiz 2:
- What is the meaning of “Clean cut”?
a) To have well-groomed hair.
b) To make a clean break from a situation.
c) To thoroughly clean a space.
Quiz 3:
- When someone suggests you “Clean up your act,” what are they advising you to do?
a) To become a better actor.
b) To improve your behavior or performance, especially after making mistakes.
c) To organize your belongings.
Quiz 4:
- What does the idiom “Clean as a whistle” imply?
a) To be completely clean, pure, or flawless.
b) To be extremely tidy.
c) To make a loud noise.
Quiz 5:
- What does it mean to “Clean house”?
a) To thoroughly clean and organize a space.
b) To renovate a house.
c) To build a new house.
Quiz 6:
- What is the meaning of “Clean hands”?
a) To have spotless hands.
b) To avoid getting dirty.
c) To have no involvement in dishonest or illegal activities.
Quiz 7:
- When someone advises you to “Clean as a sheet,” what are they suggesting?
a) To make a bed.
b) To clean a sheet of paper.
c) To be completely clean and spotless.
Quiz 8:
- What does the phrase “Clean as a daisy” describe?
a) A freshly picked daisy.
b) Being in excellent health or condition, especially someone’s appearance.
c) A dirty daisy.
Quiz 9:
- If someone tells you to “Clean out of house and home,” what do they mean?
a) To thoroughly clean a house.
b) To take or use up everything, leaving nothing behind.
c) To organize a house.
Quiz 10:
- What does it mean to “Clean the deck”?
a) To clean a set of playing cards.
b) To remove obstacles or clutter from a situation or environment.
c) To clean a ship’s deck.
Answers:
- a) A fresh start with no past mistakes or obligations.
- b) To have a neat and tidy appearance, often with well-groomed hair and attire.
- b) To improve your behavior or performance, especially after making mistakes.
- a) To be completely clean, pure, or flawless.
- a) To thoroughly clean and organize a space.
- c) To have no involvement in dishonest or illegal activities.
- c) To be completely clean and spotless.
- b) Being in excellent health or condition, especially someone’s appearance.
- b) To take or use up everything, leaving nothing behind.
- b) To remove obstacles or clutter from a situation or environment.
Conclusion
These idioms for clean offer colorful expressions to describe purity, freshness, and starting anew. Whether it’s achieving a clean sweep, starting with a clean slate, or simply being clean as a whistle, these idiomatic phrases enrich our language and allow us to celebrate cleanliness and purity in various contexts.
