make a clean sweep

1. Remove or eliminate unwanted persons or things, as in The new owners made a clean sweep of the place, intending to replace all the equipment . This phrase replaced the much older (16th-century) general sweep . [Mid-1800s]

2. Win overwhelmingly, as in Our candidate made a clean sweep of all the districts . This usage is most often found with reference to success in a sports competition or election.

Related Words

• disturb
• reorganize
• shock