Clean Slate

A fresh start; another chance after wiping out old offenses or debts. This idiom often appears as wipe the slate clean. For example, Henry's boss assured him that the matter was finished and he could start with a clean slate, or He wished he could wipe the slate clean, but it was too late to salvage the relationship. This expression alludes to the slate boards on which school work or tavern bills were recorded in easily wiped-off chalk. Since 1850 or so the term has been used figuratively, and it has long outlived the practice of writing on slate.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: an opportunity to start over without prejudice
  Synonyms: fresh start, tabula rasa

Look up clean slate in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Clean Slate may refer to:

• Clean Slate (1994 film), a film released by MGM in 1994 starring Dana Carvey and Valeria Golino.
• Clean Slate (software), software created by Fortres Grand for "non-restrictive disk protection".
• "Clean Slate" (Kim Possible), Kim Possible episode
• Clean Slate Program, Stanford University research program which considers "Clean Slate" internet redesign.
• Coup de Torchon (Clean Slate), a French film released in 1981.

See also

• Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004, an Act of Parliament in New Zealand

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