| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| clean up on |
defeat, beat, whip you, wipe you
|
Little Chad cleaned up on big Clint. Chad is quite a fighter.
|
| clean up your act |
do it better, do it legally, get your act together
|
I've missed classes, failed tests. I need to clean up my act.
|
| clean up your plate |
finish eating all the food on your plate, eat it up
|
You may leave the table after you've cleaned up your plate.
|
| clear as a bell |
easy to hear or understand, clearly audible
|
We heard him say it. He said no, clear as a bell.
|
| clear as mud |
not understandable, confusing
|
Mr. Lee explained the formula. Then he said, "Clear as mud, eh?"
|
| clear out |
leave, go, get out, take off
|
When the gang arrived, we cleared out. We left in a hurry.
|
| clear out |
sell at a low price, sell at a discount
|
We're clearing out last year's stock at 20% off.
|
| clear sailing |
(See smooth sailing)
|
|
| clear the air |
explain, talk about a problem openly
|
His statement will clear the air. It will prevent more confusion.
|
| clear up |
explain, discuss so everyone understands
|
Let's clear up the matter of the missing keys. Were they stolen?
|