Phrase guide

wipe the slate clean

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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  • /ˌwaɪp ðə sleɪt ˈkliːn/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To make a fresh start, for example by forgetting about previous differences and disagreements.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: draw a sponge over the slate, pass a sponge over the slate, bury the hatchet

Antonyms: hold a grudge

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: նոր կյանք սկսել (nor kyankʻ sksel) — to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
  • Bulgarian: започвам на чисто (započvam na čisto) — to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
  • Chinese Mandarin: 一筆勾銷 /一笔勾销 (yībǐgōuxiāo) — to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
  • Dutch: met een schone lei beginnen — to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
  • Finnish: aloittaa puhtaalta pöydältä — to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
  • French: passer l'éponge — to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
  • French: remettre les compteurs à zéro — to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
  • German: reinen Tisch machen — to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
  • Polish: zapominać o dawnych urazach — to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
  • Polish: zapomnieć o dawnych urazach — to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
  • Portuguese: começar do zero — to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
  • Russian: нача́ть с чи́стого листа́ (načátʹ s čístovo listá) — to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
  • Russian: нача́ть всё сы́знова (načátʹ vsjo sýznova) — to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
  • Russian: сбро́сить груз ста́рых оши́бок (sbrósitʹ gruz stáryx ošíbok) — to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
  • Spanish: hacer borrón y cuenta nueva — to make a fresh start, forgetting differences