clear the decks

verb

To remove, or fasten, all loose material, or partitions prior to a naval engagement.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

verbclear the decks (third-person singular simple present clears the decks, present participle clearing the decks, simple past and past participle cleared the decks)

present singular third person clears the decks · participle present clearing the decks · participle past cleared the decks · past cleared the decks

  1. nauticalTo remove, or fasten, all loose material, or partitions prior to a naval engagement.
  2. broadlyfigurativelyTo prepare for action.

Translations

Hebrew הִכּוֹן לַקְרָב
  • הִכּוֹן לַקְרָב (hikon lakrav)order
Spanish zafarrancho
  • zafarranchoorder
Cite this entry
APA

clear the decks. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clear%20the%20decks

MLA

“clear the decks.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clear%20the%20decks. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “clear the decks,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clear%20the%20decks.

Source: clear the decks on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.