clean
(redirected from cleanness)Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Like this video? Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day!
clean
1. adjective, slang Not carrying any concealed item or substance that is illicit or forbidden. A: "Check him for a wire, Mickey." B: "He's clean, boss." Police officers performed an exhaustive search of the vehicle for drugs or weapons, but it was clean.
2. adjective, slang Not intoxicated with or addicted to drugs or alcohol. I had a real drinking problem in college, but I've been clean for nearly four years now. I have to stay clean before my parole meeting next week.
3. adjective, slang Not using or testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. All athletes will have to prove they're clean before they'll be allowed to compete in the tournament.
4. adjective, slang Not involved in or guilty of any crime or wrongdoing. I investigated the company's CEO for any illegal activity, but she's clean, as far as I can tell.
5. adverb, informal Wholly or completely. Wow, he threw the knife clean through the wall! Sorry, I clean forgot we had a meeting this morning.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
clean
1. mod. not using drugs; not involved with drugs. I’ve been clean for more than a month now.
2. mod. sober; not intoxicated with drugs at the moment. (Almost the same as sense 1) Just being clean for a day is an accomplishment.
3. mod. not breaking any law. (Police and underworld.) I’m clean, officer. You can’t charge me with anything.
4. mod. not carrying a weapon. (Police and underworld.) I frisked him. He’s clean.
5. mod. well-dressed. Now there’s a clean dude!
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- (as) clean as a hound's tooth
- (as) clean as a new pin
- (as) clean as a whistle
- (one's) conscience is clean
- (one's) hands are clean
- a clean bill of health
- a clean break
- a clean conscience makes a soft pillow
- a clean sheet
- a clean sheet (of paper)
- a clean sheet/slate
- a new broom sweeps clean
- be (as) clean as a new pin
- be (as) clean as a whistle
- be cleaned out
- be given a clean bill of health
- clean
- clean (one's) act up
- clean (one's) clock
- clean (one's) plate (up)
- clean (one's) plow
- clean (someone or something) out of (something)
- clean act up
- clean as a hound's tooth
- clean as a new pin
- clean as a whistle
- clean bill of health
- clean bill of health, to have a/be given a
- clean break
- clean clock
- clean code
- clean down
- clean hands, have
- clean house
- clean off
- clean one's act up
- clean out
- clean out of
- clean plate
- clean plow
- clean sheet
- clean slate
- clean slate, have a/start with a
- clean someone out
- clean someone's clock
- clean sweep
- clean sweep, (make) a
- clean the floor (up) with (one)
- clean the floor up with
- clean up
- clean up (one's) act
- clean up act
- clean up after (someone or something)
- clean up nice(ly)
- clean up on (something)
- clean up on something
- clean up your act
- clean-cut
- cleaned out
- clean-up operation
- come clean
- come clean about (something)
- come clean about something
- come clean with (someone)
- come clean with (someone) about (something)
- come clean with someone
- come clean with someone about something
- come clean, to
- fresh out of
- get (one's) clock cleaned
- get (one's) prescription filled
- get (one's) prescription refilled
- get clean away
- give (someone or something) a clean bill of health
- have a clean bill of health
- have a clean conscience
- have a clean conscience about (someone or something)
- have a clean slate
- have a clear conscience
- have clean hands
- keep (one's) hands clean
- keep (one's) nose clean
- keep (one's) slate clean
- keep a clean sheet
- keep nose clean
- keep one's nose clean
- keep your nose clean
- make a clean break
- make a clean break (from/with someone or something)
- make a clean breast
- make a clean breast of
- make a clean breast of (something)
- make a clean breast of it
- make a clean breast of something
- make a clean breast of something, to
- make a clean sweep
- Mr Clean
- Mr. Clean
- new broom sweeps clean, a
- New brooms sweep clean
- pick (something) clean
- pick something clean
- poor but clean
- scrub off
- show (someone) a clean pair of heels
- show a clean pair of heels
- show one's heels
- show someone or something a clean pair of heels
- so clean (that) (one) could eat off the floor(s)
- so clean you could eat off the floor
- someone's hands are clean
- squeaky clean
- start (off) with a clean slate
- start over with a clean slate
- start with a clean sheet (of paper)
- start with a clean slate
- wipe (one's) slate clean
- wipe slate clean and wipe the slate clean
- wipe the slate clean