a clean slate (idiom)
2016.11.16
Meaning:
A hundred years ago, schoolchildren used ‘slates’ to take notes in class. A slate was like a mini-blackboard. After filling the slate with words, numbers and pictures, the children wiped their slates clean and started again. The idiom ‘to wipe the slate clean’ means ‘to start again, and to forget about any negative feelings from the past’. If someone gives you ‘a clean slate’, they are giving you an opportunity to start fresh; to forget about any bad things you have said or done in the past.
Example:
A: The Presidential Election was so nasty. I’m tired of all the fighting. I hope we can just wipe the slate clean and all try to work together now.
B: Mmm… I don’t think a clean slate is realistic. President-Elect Trump has said too many angry things, and some people are still protesting about it.
A: Well, I hope you’re wrong...
Talking Point(s):
Do you believe it is possible to wipe the slate clean after an argument?