AnneC  +  88287 Fri, 08 Apr 05 08:09 PM Does to start with a clean sheet mean the same as to start with a clean slate? Can you be given a clean sheet (like you can be given a clean chit)? Abbie, you said: 'If someone makes a mistake, and is punished, and the all is forgiven, we say "To start again with a clean sheet"'. So someone who starts with a clean sheet has done something wrong, but has been given a second chance? Just like starting over with a clean slate? I think someone gets a clean chit when he or she hasn't done anything wrong (but was suspected of doing something wrong). AnneC Joined on Fri, Apr 1 2005 New Member 39

	abbie1948  +  88296 Fri, 08 Apr 05 09:04 PM Hi Anne, I am not familiar with the expression "clean chit". You can "keep a clean sheet", or "keep the slate clean" which means make no mistakes And you can start again by starting with a clean sheet, or as you say, clean slate. Here is an example from the Guardian newspaper: "It's clean sheet time. We are starting afresh, and I think Lawton has done a very good job. She is a very decent and honest person and I think she has had a battle with the way the whole place is structured. "But I think she has moved it on quite a bit, and now she wants to go and let someone else take up the cudgels." abbie1948

	MrPedantic  +  88312 Fri, 08 Apr 05 11:10 PM Or you can 'wipe the slate clean'. 'clean sheet' 'starting afresh' 'good job' 'battling with a way' 'moving it on' 'taking up the cudgels' – whew. Where Metaphors Go To Die. MrP MrPedantic Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004 Veteran Member 12,592 ...opella forensis / adducit febris... Metaphors

	pieanne  +  128219 Thu, 18 Aug 05 03:39 PM (what about "chitchat?)   pieanne Joined on Thu, Jan 20 2005 South of France ...But I'm Belgian! Veteran Member 7,517 I'm glad to help, but I'm not a native! And please excuse my typos...

	science_guru  +  128359 Thu, 18 Aug 05 10:46 PM "given a clean chit" is quite oftenly used in Indian English media. Giving clean chit mean clearing from all accusation. A small battle took place between India and  Pakistan a couple of years back, called Kargil war. George Fernandes was the defence minister of India at that time. Indian government imported some war related things. Recently the minister was charged for wrongdoing in the purchase. But after investigation it was found that the minister did not involve in any mischief and hence given a clean chit. SG  science_guru Joined on Mon, Jun 27 2005 New Member 51