wipe the slate clean

/ˌwaɪp ðə sleɪt ˈkliːn/

verb

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

Similar
draw a sponge over the slatepass a sponge over the slatebury the hatchet
Opposite
hold a grudge
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Meanings

verbwipe the slate clean (third-person singular simple present wipes the slate clean, present participle wiping the slate clean, simple past and past participle wiped the slate clean)

present singular third person wipes the slate clean · participle present wiping the slate clean · participle past wiped the slate clean · past wiped the slate clean

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

    Synonyms: draw a sponge over the slate, pass a sponge over the slate, bury the hatchet · Antonyms: hold a grudge

Synonyms & antonyms

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

Similar
draw a sponge over the slatepass a sponge over the slatebury the hatchet
Opposite
hold a grudge
Also see
draw a sponge over the slatepass a sponge over the slate

Translations

Bulgarian започвам на чисто
  • започвам на чисто (započvam na čisto)to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
Chinese Mandarin 一筆勾銷 /一笔勾销
  • 一筆勾銷 /一笔勾销 (yībǐgōuxiāo)to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
Dutch met een schone lei beginnen
  • met een schone lei beginnento make a fresh start, forgetting differences
Finnish aloittaa puhtaalta pöydältä
  • aloittaa puhtaalta pöydältäto make a fresh start, forgetting differences
French passer l'éponge, remettre les compteurs à zéro
  • passer l'épongeto make a fresh start, forgetting differences
  • remettre les compteurs à zéroto make a fresh start, forgetting differences
German reinen Tisch machen
  • reinen Tisch machento make a fresh start, forgetting differences
Polish zapominać o dawnych urazach, zapomnieć o dawnych urazach
  • zapominać o dawnych urazachto make a fresh start, forgetting differences
  • zapomnieć o dawnych urazachto make a fresh start, forgetting differences
Portuguese começar do zero
  • começar do zeroto make a fresh start, forgetting differences
Russian нача́ть с чи́стого листа́, нача́ть всё сы́знова
  • нача́ть с чи́стого листа́ (načátʹ s čístovo listá)to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
  • нача́ть всё сы́знова (načátʹ vsjo sýznova)to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
  • сбро́сить груз ста́рых оши́бок (sbrósitʹ gruz stáryx ošíbok)to make a fresh start, forgetting differences
Spanish hacer borrón y cuenta nueva
  • hacer borrón y cuenta nuevato make a fresh start, forgetting differences
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

Source: wipe the slate clean on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.