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clear the decks |
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clear the decks 1. Lit. [for everyone] leave the deck of a ship and prepare for action. (A naval expression urging seaman to stow gear and prepare for battle or other action.) An attack is coming. Clear the decks. 2. Fig. get out of the way; get out of this area. Clear the decks! Here comes the teacher. Clear the decks and take your seats. clear the decks (informal) to finish dealing with what you are doing so that you can start to do something more important See out of the blue, steer clear of, be as clear as dayUsage notes: If navy officers clear the decks they prepare a ship for war. His company is clearing the decks for major new investment in the Far East. clear the decks to finish what you are doing in order to do something more important His company is clearing the decks to begin work on a major new product. Etymology: based on the literal meaning of clear the decks (prepare a ship to fight by putting away everything that is not necessary) How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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To wage war against its terrorist adversaries, America must clear the decks of outdated or misguided military commitments. To measure whether ample DNase I can clear the decks and prevent such an onslaught, the researchers created mice that lack the enzyme and compared them with healthy mice. You need to clear the decks before you add anything new. |
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