Clear the decks

Meaning

The idiom "clear the decks" means to remove all obstacles or difficulties, usually before a major event takes place. It can also mean to get rid of unnecessary people or things. The figurative meaning is that it is necessary to prepare for something important by removing any potential obstacles or distractions.

Usage

• The manager asked everyone to clear the decks before the meeting started so they could focus on the presentation.
• The company had to clear the decks before they could start the new project, which required a lot of resources and personnel.
• After the accident, the police cleared the decks so they could investigate the scene properly.
• Before moving to a new city, Sarah decided to clear the decks by getting rid of all her old furniture and belongings.
• The CEO asked his team to clear the decks before the company went public, as they needed to focus on their financials and investor relations.

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom "clear the decks" is not entirely clear, but it has been used in English since at least the 17th century. It may have come from the practice of clearing the deck of cards before playing a game or shuffling them after a round. In this context, "clear the decks" meant to get rid of all the cards and start fresh. Over time, the idiom has taken on a more general meaning and is often used in situations where things need to be cleared away or removed in order for something important to happen. The use of the word "decks" may have been influenced by the nautical term, which refers to the wooden parts of a ship that are located above the waterline and are used for fighting fires or fighting off boarders. In this context, "clear the decks" meant to get rid of anything that could potentially hinder the crew's efforts to protect the ship.

Synonyms in English

• Clear the way
• Remove obstacles
• Get out of the way
• Clean up
• Prepare for something important

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish - "hacer espacio" (make space)
• French - "libérer la voie" (clear the way)
• German - "bühnendeklärung" (stage clearance)
• Italian - "pulire il campo di gioco" (clean up the playing field)
• Portuguese - "limpar o caminho" (clear the path)

Similar Idioms

• call bluff

• on board

• carrot and stick