a clean sweep Definition

sweep
verb swept, sweeping

1. To clean (a room, a floor, etc) with a brush or broom.

Thesaurus: brush, clear, clean, dust, skim, tidy, ready.
Form: sweep something out (also)
Form: sweep something up
2. To remove (dirt, dust, etc) with a brush or broom.

Form: sweep something away (also)
Form: sweep something off
Form: sweep something up
3. To dismiss (ideas, suggestions, etc) or remove (problems, errors, etc).

Example: She swept aside their objections
Example: a need to sweep away the inadequacies of the past
Form: sweep something aside (usually)
Form: sweep something away
4. To take, carry or push them suddenly and with irresistible force.

Example: The current swept the boat through the narrows
Form: sweep someone or something away (often)
Form: sweep someone or something off
Form: sweep someone or something past
5. To lift, gather or clear with a forceful scooping or brushing movement.

Example: He swept the child into his arms
Form: sweep someone or something off (often)
Form: sweep someone or something up
tr & intr
6. To move, pass or spread smoothly and swiftly, or strongly, or uncontrollably.

Example: Strong winds were sweeping in from the sea
Example: A new fitness craze is sweeping the country
Example: Labour sweeps to victory in the local elections
Form: sweep in, out (often)
intr
7. To walk, especially with garments flowing, impressively, arrogantly, angrily, etc.

Example: She swept across the room in her silk pyjamas
tr & intr
8. To pass quickly over, making light contact.

Example: Her dress swept the floor
Example: swept along the floor
intr
9. To extend curvingly and impressively.

Example: The mountains swept down to the sea
intr
10. Said of emotions, etc: to affect suddenly and overpoweringly.

Example: She felt a chill sweep over her
11. To force or inspire into taking an unwanted or unintended direction or course of action.

Example: trying to sweep her into a quick resolution
12. To have a decisive electoral win.

Example: expecting to sweep the country in next week's elections
13. To cast or direct (eg one's gaze) with a scanning movement.
14. To make extensive searches over (an area, especially the sea) for mines, ships, etc.
15. To make with a broad flourishing motion of the arms.

Example: He swept a low bow
intr
16. football.
To act as sweeper in a team.
Example: the guy who sweeps for Norwich

noun

1. An act of sweeping.
2. A sweeping movement or action.

Thesaurus: stroke, swing.
3. A sweeping line, eg of a road, or broad sweeping stretch, eg of landscape.
4a. The range or area over which something moves, especially in a curving or circular path.
4b. The range, scope or extent of something.

Thesaurus: compass, range, scope, breadth, extent, length.
5. colloq
A sweepstake.
6. colloq
A chimney-sweep.
7. The cable towed by a minesweeper, used to clear mines from an area of sea.

Idiom: a clean sweep

A complete change or clear-out.

The winning of all prizes, awards, political seats, etc.

Idiom: sweep someone off their feet

To cause them to lose control of their thoughts, and especially to fall uncontrollably in love.

Idiom: sweep the board

See under board.

Idiom: sweep something under the carpet

To hide or ignore something (especially unwelcome facts, difficulties, etc).
Thesaurus: sweep something under the rug (US), hide, conceal, neglect, ignore, put out of sight, whitewash, stonewall (slang).

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon swapan.