clean sweep

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 sweep
1 : a victory in which one side or team wins every game, contest, etc.

The Red Sox won the series in a clean sweep.

The election was a clean sweep for local Democratic candidates.

2 : a complete change in something

The 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.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Clean sweep — may refer to: Clean Sweep, an American television series clean sweep (naval), a naval expression meaning a successful mission Clean Sweep, a fictional character in the G.I. Joe universe Clean Sweep (The Hardy Boys), a Hardy Boys novel Operation… …   Wikipedia

  • clean sweep — If someone makes a clean sweep, they win absolutely everything in a competition or contest …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • Clean Sweep — For other uses, see Clean sweep (disambiguation). Clean Sweep Clean Sweep Format Home Improvement Country of origin …   Wikipedia

  • clean sweep — {n. phr.} A complete victory. * /Our candidate for the United States Senate made a clean sweep over his opponent./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • clean sweep — {n. phr.} A complete victory. * /Our candidate for the United States Senate made a clean sweep over his opponent./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • clean sweep — n. a broad movement clearing or affecting everything in the pathway. (Usually figurative.) □ The boss and everybody in the front office got canned in a clean sweep from upstairs. □ Everybody got a raise. It was a clean sweep …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • 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… …   Universalium

  • clean\ sweep — n. phr. A complete victory. Our candidate for the United States Senate made a clean sweep over his opponent …   Словарь американских идиом

  • clean sweep —    If someone makes a clean sweep, they win absolutely everything in a competition or contest.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • Clean sweep (naval) — A broom on the USS Wahoo, Pearl Harbor, 1943 A clean sweep for a naval vessel refers to having swept the enemy from the seas, a completely successful mission. It is traditionally indicated by hanging a broom from a mast or lashing it to the… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”