make a clean sweep

SEE SYNONYMS FOR make a clean sweep ON THESAURUS.COM
1

Remove or eliminate unwanted persons or things, as in The new owners made a clean sweep of the place, intending to replace all the equipment. This phrase replaced the much older (16th-century) general sweep. [Mid-1800s]

2

Win overwhelmingly, as in Our candidate made a clean sweep of all the districts. This usage is most often found with reference to success in a sports competition or election.

Words nearby make a clean sweep

make a beeline for, make a break for, make a bundle, make a clean breast of, make a clean breast of it, make a clean sweep, make a comeback, make a crack, make a date, make a day of it, make a dent in

Words related to make a clean sweep

reorganize, shock, disturb, agitate, liquidate, mix, overturn, purge, remove, rid, groom