start with a clean sheet

verb

To begin something anew, without being hindered by past mistakes, problems or biases; to start all over again.

Similar
start with a clean slatestart with a clean sheet of paper
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Meanings

verbstart with a clean sheet (third-person singular simple present starts with a clean sheet, present participle starting with a clean sheet, simple past and past participle started with a clean sheet)

present singular third person starts with a clean sheet · participle present starting with a clean sheet · participle past started with a clean sheet · past started with a clean sheet

  1. idiomaticTo begin something anew, without being hindered by past mistakes, problems or biases; to start all over again.

    Synonyms: start with a clean slate, start with a clean sheet of paper

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo begin something anew, without being hindered by past mistakes, problems or biases; to start all over again.

Similar
start with a clean slatestart with a clean sheet of paper
Also see
start with a clean sheet of paperstart with a clean slateturn over a new leaf
Cite this entry
APA

start with a clean sheet. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/start%20with%20a%20clean%20sheet

MLA

“start with a clean sheet.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/start%20with%20a%20clean%20sheet. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “start with a clean sheet,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/start%20with%20a%20clean%20sheet.

Source: start with a clean sheet on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.