The Village Idiom

start with a clean slate

The idiom "start with a clean slate" means to begin a new task or situation without any previous mistakes, problems, or conflicts from the past.

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In a sentence

  • After her divorce, Sarah decided to move to a new city and start with a clean slate, leaving behind all her past troubles and starting fresh.
  • The company went through a major reorganization and decided to let go of all their old employees, allowing them to start with a clean slate and rebuild the company from scratch.
  • John had a troubled past, but after completing his rehab program, he was determined to start with a clean slate and make positive changes in his life.

Where it comes from and how it is used

The idiom "start with a clean sheet" is similar in meaning to "start with a clean slate." Both idioms suggest the notion of beginning afresh, without any existing burdens or obstacles. While "start with a clean slate" emphasizes the idea of wiping away past mistakes or negative experiences, "start with a clean sheet" specifically refers to starting a task or project with a fresh and unmarked sheet of paper, symbolizing a new beginning.

Similarly, the expression "back to square one" is often used to describe a situation where all progress or advancements have been lost, and one needs to start over from the beginning. The exact origin of this phrase is uncertain, but it is believed to have originated from board games or sports where players have to move their pieces or advance from one square or stage to another. When someone is back to square one, it means they have returned to the initial starting point and need to regain momentum or restart the process.

Know an earlier use or a better origin story?Tell us.