clear the decks Definition

clear
adj

1. Transparent; easy to see through.

Thesaurus: lucid, transparent, translucent, crystal clear; Antonym: opaque, dark, muddy.
2. Said of weather, etc: not misty or cloudy.
3. Said of the skin: healthy; unblemished by spots, etc.
4a. Easy to see, hear or understand;
4b. Lucid.
5. Bright; sharp; well-defined.

Example: a clear photograph
6. Said of vision: not obstructed.
7. Said of musical sounds: pure and accurate.
8. Certain; convinced; having no doubts or confusion

Example: Are you clear about that point?
9. Definite; free of doubt, ambiguity or confusion.

Thesaurus: explicit, precise, apparent, manifest, plain, patent; Antonym: fuzzy, ambiguous.
10. Capable of, or resulting from, accurate observation, logical thinking, etc.
11. Evident; obvious.
12. Free from obstruction.

Example: a clear path
Thesaurus: unobstructed, unhampered, unfettered, free, disentangled, divested.
13. Well away from something; out of range of or contact with it.

Example: well clear of the rocks
14. Free of it; no longer affected by it.
15. Remaining after all charges, taxes, expenses, etc have been paid.
16. Said of the conscience, etc: free from guilt, etc.
17. Entire; without interruption.

Example: need a clear week to finish
18. Free of appointments, etc.

adverb

1. In a clear manner.
2. Completely.

Example: get clear away
(N Amer)
3. All the way.

Example: see clear to the hills
4. Well away from something; out of the way of it.

Example: steer clear of trouble

verb cleared, clearing

tr & intr
1. To make or become clear, free of obstruction, etc.
2. To remove or move out of the way.
3. To prove or declare to be innocent or free from suspicion.

Thesaurus: acquit, discharge, exonerate, pardon, exculpate, get off the hook (slang).
4. To get over or past something without touching.

Example: clear the fence
5. To make as profit over expenses.

Thesaurus: profit, realize, net, make.
6. To pass inspection by (customs).
7. To give or get official permission for (a plan, etc).
8. To approve someone for a special assignment, access to secret information, etc.
tr & intr
9. Said of a cheque: to pass from one bank to another through a clearing-house.
10. To decode.
11. To pay a debt.
tr & intr
12. To give or receive clearance.

Example: The aeroplane was cleared for take-off

Derivative: clearness
noun

Idiom: clear as mud

See under mud.

Idiom: clear the air

colloq
To get rid of bad feeling, suspicion or tension, especially by frank discussion.

Idiom: clear the decks

See under deck¹.

Idiom: in the clear

No longer under suspicion, in difficulties, or in danger.
Thesaurus: guiltless, blameless, innocent; exonerated, absolved, exculpated, unencumbered, free, out of the woods.

Etymology: 13c: from French cler, from Latin clarus clear.

Phrasal Verb: clear something away

To remove it.

Phrasal Verb: clear off

To go away.

Phrasal Verb: clear something off

To finish paying debts, etc.

Phrasal Verb: clear out

To go away.

Phrasal Verb: clear something out

To rid it of rubbish, etc.

Phrasal Verb: clear up

Said of the weather: to brighten after rain, a storm, etc.To get better.
Example: Her acne cleared up quickly

Phrasal Verb: clear something up

To tidy up a mess, room, etc.To solve a mystery, etc.

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deck¹
noun

1. A platform extending from one side of a ship to the other, and forming a floor or covering.
2. A floor or platform in a bus, bridge, etc.
(N Amer, especially US)
3. A pack of playing-cards.
4. The part of a tape recorder or computer which contains the mechanism for operation.
5. The unit that contains the turntable and pick-up of a record player.

Idiom: clear the decks

To clear away obstacles or deal with preliminary jobs in preparation for further activity.

Idiom: hit the deck

To lie or fall down suddenly and quickly on the ground or floor.
Thesaurus: duck, fall down, throw oneself down, lay down.

To get out of bed.
Thesaurus: get up, get out of bed, rise and shine, get ready, get moving, act.

To go into action.

Etymology: 15c: from Dutch dec roof or covering.