clean out
To empty something completely and make it clean; or to take all of someone's money.
Meanings
To remove all contents from a place, room, or container and make it clean.
"I spent the whole weekend cleaning out the garage — I hadn't touched it in years."
To take all of someone's money or to spend all one's money, leaving nothing.
"That car repair completely cleaned me out — I've got nothing left until payday."
To empty a shop, supply, or stock completely by buying or taking everything.
"Shoppers cleaned out the supermarket shelves in a matter of hours before the storm."
Used literally for spaces (clean out a cupboard) and informally to mean financially draining someone (the holiday cleaned me out). The financial sense is informal and common in everyday speech.
Commonly used with
Forms
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