spring-clean

[ spring-kleen ]

verb (used with object)

1. to subject (a place) to a spring-cleaning.

spring-clean

verb

1. to clean (a house) thoroughly: traditionally at the end of the winter

noun

1. an instance of spring-cleaning

Derived Forms

• ˌspring-ˈcleaning, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spring-clean¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

One sweep of that great tongue was warranted to spring-clean a cub down all one side from throat to tail.

From Project Gutenberg