Phrase guide

clean someone's clock

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To defeat someone decisively, in a physical fight or other competition or negotiation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fix someone's clock

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From clean (“to thrash, defeat”) and clock (“face”) as metonym for “guy”, “someone”.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: met iemand de vloer aanvegen — defeat decisively
  • Dutch: iemand uitschakelen — defeat decisively
  • French: battre à plate couture — defeat decisively
  • Greek: καθαρίζω κάποιον σαν αβγό (katharízo kápoion san avgó) — defeat decisively
  • Polish: pokonywać doszczętnie — defeat decisively
  • Polish: pokonać doszczętnie — defeat decisively
  • Russian: разде́лать под оре́х (razdélatʹ pod oréx) — defeat decisively
  • Russian: разма́зать по сте́нке (razmázatʹ po sténke) — defeat decisively