clean house

clean  (kln)

adj. clean·er, clean·est

1. Free from dirt, stain, or impurities; unsoiled.

2.

a. Free from foreign matter or pollution; unadulterated: clean air; clean drinking water.

b. Not infected: a clean wound.

3.

a. Producing relatively little pollution: a clean fuel; a cleaner, more efficient engine.

b. Producing relatively little radioactive fallout or contamination: a clean nuclear bomb.

4. Having no imperfections or blemishes; regular or even: a clean edge; a smooth, clean joint.

5.

a. Not ornate or intricate; spare: "the clean lines and exquisite proportions of early modernism" (Judith Thurman).

b. Sharply defined; clear-cut: a clean outline against the sky.

6. Free from clumsiness; deft; adroit: a clean throw.

7. Devoid of restrictions or encumbrances: a clean bill of health.

8. Thorough; complete: a clean getaway.

9. Having few alterations or corrections; legible: clean manuscript.

10. Blank: a clean page.

11.

a. Morally pure; virtuous: led a clean life.

b. Having no marks of discredit or offense: a clean voting record.

12. Fit for all readers, listeners, or audiences; not ribald or obscene: a clean joke.

13. Honest or fair: a clean fighter; a clean competition.

14. Slang

a. Not carrying concealed weapons or drugs.

b. Innocent of a suspected crime.

15. Informal

a. Free from narcotics addiction.

b. Showing no evidence of using banned or performance-enhancing substances: proven to be clean before the race.

adv. cleaner, cleanest

1. So as to be unsoiled: wash the dishes clean.

2. In a fair manner: played the game clean.

3. In a clean or nonpolluting manner: a fuel that burns clean.

4. Informal Entirely; wholly: clean forgot the appointment.

v. cleaned, clean·ing, cleans

v.tr.

1. To rid of dirt, rubbish, or impurities: clean a room; clean a suit.

2. To get rid of (impurities or dirt, for example); remove: cleaned up the trash; cleaned off the stains.

3. To prepare (fowl or other food) for cooking, as by removing the entrails or fat.

4. To remove the contents from; empty: cleaned my plate.

5. Sports To lift (a barbell) from the floor to the shoulders in one motion.

v.intr.

To undergo or perform an act of cleaning.

Phrasal Verbs:

clean out

1. To rid of dirt, rubbish, or impurities.

2. To empty of contents or occupants.

3. Informal To drive or force out: cleaned out the incompetent workers.

4. Slang To deprive completely of money or material wealth: The robbery cleaned us out.

clean up

1. To make clean or orderly.

2. To make oneself clean, neat, or presentable.

3. To dispose of; settle: cleaned up the unpaid bills.

4. Slang To make a large profit, often in a short period of time: cleaned up during the bull market.

Idiom:

clean house Slang

To eliminate or discard what is undesirable: The scandal forced the company to clean house.

---

[Middle English clene, from Old English clne.]

---

cleana·ble adj.

cleanness n.

Synonyms: clean, antiseptic, cleanly, immaculate, spotless
These adjectives mean free from dirt: clean clothing; antiseptic surgical instruments; a cleanly pet; an immaculate tablecloth; a spotless kitchen.

Antonym: dirty

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

clean house - clean and tidy up the house; "She housecleans every week" houseclean, clean clean up, neaten, square away, tidy, tidy up, straighten, straighten out - put (things or places) in order; "Tidy up your room!" clean - remove while making clean; "Clean the spots off the rug" clean, make clean - make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from; "Clean the stove!"; "The dentist cleaned my teeth" G.I., GI - clean in preparation for inspection; "the soldiers GIed the barracks" spring-clean - thoroughly clean the entire house, often done only once a year; "she started spring-cleaning on April 1"