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clear out

verb, noun — 9 senses

clear out

verbalso spelled clear-out
1

To completely empty.

  • We had to clear out the attic so the guest could sleep there.
  • Clear out your e-mail inbox to make more space.
2

To rob or steal from (someone).

  • Kelly disappeared last night, and she cleared me out.
3

To be victorious in gambling against (someone); to financially ruin (someone).

  • I don't have any money, Betty cleared me out.
4

to remove or eject (from), especially forcibly.

  • The police cleared the crowd out of the street to investigate the accident.
  • We need to get the trees cleared out the way before anything can drive down this path.
5

To leave quickly.

  • They cleared out as soon as the cops arrived.
6

To become empty.

  • The town is packed in the summer, but clears out in the winter.
Derived terms
clear-out, clearout

clear-out

noun

Etymology Deverbal from clear out.

1

The act of emptying a room or space.

  • We should give the garage a clear-out to make space for the new car.
  • DB Cargo has begun its clear-out of its Class 90 electric locomotive fleet in a fresh attempt to sell 12 examples, some of which have been out of use for almost 20 years.2023 October 4, “Network News: DBC launches fresh bid to sell redundant Class 90s”, in RAIL, number 993, page 10:
2

Ball games, Basketball, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports A semicircular sweep with the ball grasped firmly in both hands.

3

Ball games, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Rugby, Sports The act of removing opponents from a ruck or scrum in order to secure possession of the ball.

  • Dave Kearney was straight over the ball in a jackal, and Mul made a brilliant clear-out.2016, Gerry Thornley, Front Up, Rise Up: The Official Story of Connacht Rugby:
  • Leading British rugby correspondent Brendan Gallagher, writing in The Rugby Paper on 31 December 2017, produced a withering indictment of the practice, saying: “Sort out the thuggery at clear-out time, start reffing it properly. The clear out doesn't exist in law and certainly shouldn't be used as an excuse for players who are not bound to launch themselves off their feet like an Exocet and take out-injure-maim players who are behind the ball and legally bound on. Or sometimes just trying to reach the ruck."2021, Ross Reyburn, Saving Rugby Union:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — authors: page histories for clear out and clear-out.