-
A new broom sweeps clean
A new broom sweeps cleanNew leadership injects energy.
-
new broom sweeps clean, a
new broom sweeps clean, aA fresh leader or administration gets rid of the old and brings in new ideas and personnel. For example, Once he takes office, you can be sure the President will replace most of the people on the staff—a new broom sweeps clean. This term was already in John Heywood's 1546 proverb collection, was used figuratively by Shakespeare, and exists in many other languages as well.
A new broom sweeps clean
CulturalExample Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There is an old adage which says, "A new broom sweeps clean."
From How to Live a Holy Life by Charles Ebert Orr
The following proverbs are all excellent for this game:— "A new broom sweeps clean."
From Games For All Occasions by Mary E. Blain
"A new broom sweeps clean, but it will get worn out," with sundry mysterious nods.
From Hope Mills or, Between Friend and Sweetheart by Amanda Minnie Douglas
The blood rushed to my head, but I only answered, "A new broom sweeps clean."
From The King in Yellow by Robert W. (Robert William) Chambers
"A new broom sweeps clean," laughed the girl, rinsing out the dishcloths and hanging them on the line behind the stove.
From Sheila of Big Wreck Cove A Story of Cape Cod by R. Emmett (Robert Emmett) Owen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.