clear the decks
phrase
: to make sweeping preparations for action
Examples of clear the decks in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Emergency measures to shed inefficient commitments attached to depreciating assets and clear the decks for the purpose of accumulating future value over the next 24 months will be required to turn this particular franchise around.
—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
28 June 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
28 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clear the decks.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clear%20the%20decks. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
