clean house
Idioms-
Wipe out corruption or inefficiency, as in It's time the Republican Party cleaned house . This usage is most often applied to an organization. [ Slang ; c. 1900]
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Punish, give a beating, as in Whenever he was drunk he threatened to clean house on one and all . [ Slang ; c. 1900]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Sinners” was good enough to score a record number of nominations, but apparently, not good enough to clean house.
From Salon • Mar. 16, 2026
Operationally, he has been clear about the need for an internal shake-up at the Fed, and we fully expect he will try to clean house.
From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026
He coached briefly on his father’s staff in Minnesota, only for the Timberwolves to clean house soon after.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2025
When people feel economically pinched, they often try to clean house.
From Slate • Nov. 14, 2024
But see, I couldn’t iron or clean house or cook.
From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride
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.
