clean animals • cleanly animals clean animals —1. animals that are habitually clean: Rats are obsessively clean animals that spend a good 20 percent of their day cleaning themselves. 2. animals considered fit for food by religious custom: God tells us that the clean animals were to be used for food and the unclean animals were not to be used as food. cleanly animals — = clean animals 1: You need to spend only little time on the personal hygiene of the guinea-pigs because they are very cleanly animals . clean as a new pin • clean as a whistle clean as a new pin—spotlessly clean; very tidy: He was al- ways glad to see me in the galley which he kept as clean as a new pin . clean as a whistle—1. = clean as a new pin: It was not long before the dismal little boarded-up house was as clean as a whistle . 2. said of smth. neatly and skillfully done: The dog jumped through the hoop as clean as a whistle . clean-fingered • clean-handed clean-fingered—1. (of a musician, etc.) having quick and nimble fingers: The clean-fingered playing and thoughtful ap- proach distinguish his performance of the earlier pieces. 2. honest; incorruptible: Desire for clean-fingered lottery regu- lators ensured that none of them was remotely connected to the gambling industry. clean-handed—not guilty of any wrongdoing: Mature, democratic institutions with clean-handed politics and social justice are still a long way off. clean room • dirty room clean room—1. (also: white room) a room that is virtually free of dust or bacteria (used in assembly of precision equip- ment): The plant is a state-of-the-art facility that forms tran- sistors onto large glass substrates, in a class–100 clean room . 2. (med.) operating theater with a “clean-room” atmosphere: It was a hospital clean room he was locked in. Purified air and the smell of disinfectant. dirty room—(med.) an operating room where the surgeon has to deal with an infection: The hospital has four wards. In addition, there is an operation theater for major procedures, and a “dirty” room for minor cases. clean shave • close shave clean shave —(sl.) said of an act of swindling: We doubt if any lady is aware of the very clean shave she is constantly un- dergoing. close shave—a dangerous situation that a person just man- ages to avoid: I did not so much as get my feet wet when the bridge fell, though it was a close shave . clean-shaven • closely shaven clean-shaven—said of a man not having a moustache or beard: He provided a list of celebrated clean-shaven men and also of celebrated beavers, as bearded men are termed. closely shaven—said of a man with a neat, smooth shave: He was tall, spare, with closely shaven face and gray hair, worn rather long. clean someone out • clean up on someone clean someone out—(coll.) take everything from a person; deprive or cheat smb. of his money, etc.: “She cleaned me out ,” says Williams. “She used me to get to America.” clean up on someone—(U.S. coll.) defeat an opponent (in a fight): Chavez looked tired and Tszyu cleaned up on him , clocking him with a clean left hook and several right upper- cuts. clear a ship • clear a ship for action clear a ship—pay the charges at the custom-house and re- ceive permission to sail: The custom’s official told me that only the captain could clear the ship and that I had to go back and get him. clear a ship for action —(also: clear the decks) remove all en- cumbrances from the deck of a ship ready for an engagement: Crews were often given a hot meal before being called to clear the ship for action . clear as crystal • clear as mud clear as crystal—1. (of water, etc.) unclouded; transparent: The cave was long and wide and pervaded by cold water, clear as crystal . 2. (of a situation) very clear; easily understood: I don’t know why you can’t understand the instructions—they’re as clear as crystal to me. Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase clear as a bell1. (of sound) extremely clear: When his daughter telephoned him from America he could hear her as clear as a bell . 2. = clear as crystal 2: When I write some- thing, the meaning is clear as a bell to me. When someone reads what I wrote, the interpretation may be very different. clear as mud—1. (joc.) = clear as crystal 2: It was clear as mud that Angelides was very smart. But it was also clear that he was not a politician…. 2. (ironic) not at all clear: I’m now giving up as I’ve wasted too much time on this and the in- structions are about as clear as mud . clear away • clear off clear away—1. (of clouds, fog, etc.) vanish; disappear: The mist cleared away as the sun came out. 2. clear the table: Mother always clears away when we have finished eating. clear off—1. (coll., often imper.) be off; go away (also: clear out): I told them to clear off and threatened to call the police. 2. (coll., also: clear out) run away; leave in a hurry: When he saw the policeman, he cleared off as fast as his legs could carry him. 3. = clear away 1: This fog cleared off more quickly than others and after an hour it was just overcast and warm. clear land • clear the land clear land—remove trees and brushwood (to cultivate the soil): I have been clearing land for eight days, and now begin to feel the effects of poison—from ivy, doubtless. clear the land—1. = clear land: There were three ways by which the first settlers cleared the land . The first was called “slashing.” 2. (Nautical) maneuver close to land without run- ning ashore: It looked a bit close to the beach where the ship was drifting. But we managed to clear the land clear something off • clear something out clear something off—1. remove smth. unwanted in order to leave a clear space: Please clear your papers off so that I can serve dinner. 2. pay one’s debts, remaining payments, etc.: I hope to clear off my mortgage in a few months’ time. 3. dispose of the goods, etc. (selling them cheaply): The manager wants to clear off all the old stock in the warehouse. 4. (coll.) get rid of smth.; make an end of smth.: I’d like to clear off the rest of the work which was waiting for me after my holiday. clear something out—1. = clear something off 1: I hope you’ve cleared out all those papers and envelopes from your drawer this time. 2. = clear something off 3: If you need to clear out the goods now we do have a small amount of storage space. 3. (coll.) rob a place: They completely cleared out the shop win- dow display making off with gold chains. clever at something • clever with something clever at something—quick in learning and understanding smth.: Some of you boys and girls are very clever at working sums. clean animals – 72 –