clean slate
a clean slate
Meaning
- to wipe the past out and begin afresh
- to be ready to make a fresh beginning
- to be ready to be moulded as per choice
- to be clear of any previous miscreation
Example Sentences
- The criminal has completed his sentence and has come out as a clean slate.
- I agreed to start my relationship with him on a clean slate. Whatever happened so far is now water under the bridge.
- She is a clean slate at the moment and will learn everything that the teacher teaches her.
- He wonders if having a clean slate at work will now even be possible after his reputation has been so badly tarnished.
- It should be a clean slate when starting a marital relationship. The problem begins when people carry their baggage and refuse to let it go.
- A clean slate is often not possible for people who have been elected but failed to fulfill their responsibilities to the best possible extent. The party does not offer a ticket to such people.
- He has been given a clean slate by the police department so now his visa processing should be seamless.
- It is never too late in true love and boding, so you can always start with a clean slate.
Origin
The phrase belongs to the early 19th century where slates were used as a medium to write and could be cleaned to start over.
Share your opinions1 Opinion
Actually, this is another Naval Idiom; when The Watch changed over, the previous sailor would copy his notes from the slate he had been using, into the log, and “clean the slate” for the next sailor to use. It goes right back to the Elizabethan era.
‒ Chirs July 19, 2024