“Make a clean sweep” - Get rid of anything or anyone old, extraneous, unwanted. The term often refers to new officeholders who are extremely zealous about making a completely new start. It probably came from the much older locution, “New broom sweeps clean,” quoted in John Heywood’s proverb collection of 1546 and repeated often over the years, but now virtually obsolete.
Synonyms
- Clear out
- Refresh
- Purge
- Start afresh
Related Idioms and Expressions
- Spick and span: Spotlessly clean.
- Out with the old, in with the new: Emphasizing a fresh start by discarding the old.
- Spring cleaning: Thorough cleaning of a house or place, typically done in the spring.
- Shake things up: Make dynamic changes to a system or organization.
Antonyms
- Let things slide
- Keep status quo
- Hoard
Humor-Filled Quotes
- “I’d love to make a clean sweep of my garage, but I’d probably find Jimmy Hoffa and an ancient pizza!” – Anonymous
- “Making a clean sweep sounds great, but my broom always gets tangled in the cobwebs of procrastination.” – E.Z. Tooshay
Proverbs and References
- Proverb: “A stitch in time saves nine.”
- Literature:
- “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen for character evolutions and new starts
- “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho for fundamental life changes
- Songs:
- “Clean” by Taylor Swift - A song about emotional cleansing
- “So Fresh, So Clean” by OutKast - Celebrating newness
- Movies:
- “The Intern” - A fresh start for both a senior intern and the company.
- “Up in the Air” - Exploring career shifts and cleansweep-driven changes.
Quizzes
### Which of these is a real idiom emphasizing a fresh start?
- [x] Make a clean sweep
- [ ] Paint the walls yellow
- [ ] Jump the moon
- [ ] Comb the cloud
> **Explanation:** "Make a clean sweep" is a genuine idiom meaning to get rid of the old and unnecessary to start anew. The others are nonsensical.
### Which phrase means a thorough clean or clear out?
- [ ] Sweep the cobwebs
- [ ] Dance with brooms
- [x] Spring cleaning
- [ ] Broom the room
> **Explanation:** "Spring cleaning" refers to a comprehensive clean, usually done at the onset of spring. It captures the essence of making things anew like "make a clean sweep."
### True or False: 'New broom sweeps clean' is a modern idiom.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** "New broom sweeps clean" is an old proverb dating back to John Heywood's collection of 1546. While the phrase has become somewhat obsolete, its derivatives, like "make a clean sweep," still resonate today.
### What would be an opposite action to ‘make a clean sweep’?
- [ ] Fresh start
- [x] Let things slide
- [ ] Clear out the clutter
- [ ] Sweep your worries away
> **Explanation:** "Let things slide" means to neglect or ignore ongoing issues, which is antithetical to the proactive essence of "make a clean sweep."
Farewell from Eureka Broomwell! Remember, sometimes life’s most exceptional moments come when we sweep away the past to clear a path for the new. 🧹
