- clean sweep
- 1. an overwhelming or decisive victory, as by a political candidate who wins in all or almost all election districts.2. the winning of all the prizes, rounds, contests, etc., in a competition or of all the games in a series.3. a thorough or sweeping change, esp. one effected by the large-scale removal or elimination of unwanted persons or things: The new president made a clean sweep when he joined the company, replacing all the department heads.
* * *
clean sweep,any sweeping action or change: a) the elimination of undesirable persons or activities; cleanup: »The insurgent group added that a “clean sweep” of the company's management was needed (New York Times).
b) a large majority in an election; landslide. c) the completely satisfactory performance of a ship, as for seaworthiness.* * *
clean sweepThe Red Sox won the series in a clean sweep.
The election was a clean sweep for local Democratic candidates.
2 : a complete change in somethingThe new governor has made a clean sweep of the staff in the governor's mansion. [=the new governor completely replaced the former governor's staff]
• • •Main Entry: ↑clean
Useful english dictionary. 2012.