THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
A clean slate
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
A fresh start in which previous mistakes or decisions are not held against you.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- The new term gave me a clean slate after a difficult year.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
The new term gave me ________ after a difficult year.
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A clean slate — A fresh start in which previous mistakes or decisions are not held against you.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “A clean slate” about your own life.
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Does your sentence match this meaning?
A fresh start in which previous mistakes or decisions are not held against you.
Compare: The new term gave me a clean slate after a difficult year.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use it when starting again without the burden of past problems. It suits everyday, study and workplace discussion.
More examples in context
- We agreed to restart the project with a clean slate and review every assumption.
- The coach offered each player a clean slate at the first training session.
Usage note
Common patterns are “start with a clean slate” and “give someone a clean slate.” It means a fresh start, not automatically better behaviour afterwards.
A short conversation
A: Will my old mistakes count against me in the new role?
B: You will start with a clean slate. We will judge your work from here.
A: I appreciate the chance to begin again.
One more practice question
What does giving a learner a clean slate mean?
A. Judging every new effort solely by previous mistakes.
B. Allowing a fresh start without holding previous mistakes against them.
Check your answer
B. A clean slate removes the burden of past mistakes from the new start.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.