Augean

Related to Augean: Augean stables

cleanse the Augean stables

To rid a place or entity of a massive or entrenched accumulation of something (often corruption). In Greek mythology, Heracles (Hercules) was tasked with cleansing the Augean stables—which had not been cleaned in 30 years. The local government is utterly mired in corruption and abuse, so I'm skeptical when some new elected official claims they're going to come in and cleanse the Augean stables.
See also: Augean, cleanse, stable

cleanse the Augean stables of (something)

To rid a place or entity of an accumulation of something (often corruption). In Greek mythology, Hercules was tasked with cleansing the Augean stables, which had not been cleaned in 30 years. When he was elected, he pledged to cleanse the Augean stables of the corruption and abuse that has plagued the local government for decades.
See also: Augean, cleanse, of, stable

clear the Augean stables

To rid a place or entity of a massive or entrenched accumulation of something (often corruption). In Greek mythology, Heracles (Hercules) was tasked with cleansing the Augean stables—which had not been cleaned in 30 years. The local government is utterly mired in corruption and abuse, so I'm skeptical when some new elected official claims they're going to come in and clear the Augean stables.
See also: Augean, clear, stable

clear the Augean stables of (something)

To rid a place or entity of a massive or entrenched accumulation of something (often corruption). In Greek mythology, Hercules was tasked with cleansing the Augean stables, which had not been cleaned in 30 years. When he was elected, he pledged to clear the Augean stables of the corruption and abuse that has plagued the local government for decades.
See also: Augean, clear, of, stable
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • clear the Augean stables
  • cleanse
  • cleanse the Augean stables
  • stable
  • clear the Augean stables of (something)
  • cleanse the Augean stables of (something)
  • a Pandora's box
  • Pandora's box
  • open a Pandora's box
  • Pandora
References in periodicals archive
As part of the failed bid to bring the 2018 World Cup to England, Triesman spent countless days dealing with FIFA, an organization which he believes needs a metaphorical clearing out of the Augean Stables if it is to repair its tarnished image, the report said.
Ex-English FA chief David Triesman says FIFA has 'ugly culture'
"Consignments of conventional industrial waste and VLLW from Sellafield and Chapelcross are sent to one of three licensed sites: FCC Environmental at Lillyhall, Sita at Clifton Marsh, Lancashire, or Augean at Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire, based on which is most suitable for a particular consignment under current regulatory guidelines," the NDA said.
Demonstrators in England registered their support for Cumbria area councillors who have objected to the disposal of "very low-level" radioactive waste (VLLW) from the Scottish Chapelcross power station, which is being decommissioned, in a landfill site at Lillyhall
Agreed too much money is at stake, agreed that money makes the proverbial mare go around, but this is as good a time as any to clean the Augean stables.
IPL'S BROKEN & NEEDS FIXING
CLEANING AUGEAN STABLES: EXAMINING DRAMA'S STRATEGIES
The Anti-Rule Book: A lion of play analysis summarizes his life's work in a liberating tome
The question is who will win the election in Mayaand whether the winners will be able to restore calm, stick to Bulgariaas policy of fiscal austerity and finally clean the Augean stables of corporate Bulgaria.
Desperate Demonstrations against an Ephemeral Government
"It is great news not only for the company but also to our valued staff, who have many years of experience between them and want to utilise their specialised skills as efficiently as possible for our clients." Scotoil recently formed a partnership with Yorkshire-based industrial waste specialist Augean to offer services to companies with environmental challenges.
New deals worth about PS6m to Scotoil; North Sea: Aberdeen firm says latest wins keep it on growth path
We hope, though, that when the cardinals gather to pick Benedict's successor, they consider someone able and willing to clean out the Augean Stables at the Vatican itself.
U.S. editorial excerpts -2-
Hopefully, they will soon discover they are not and the quicker the Commissioner cleans out the Augean stables, the better for all concerned.
Police Federation seems to be more akin to the Mafia; views
Erol Rizaov reminds in Utrinski Vesnik of the stunt of Hercules who managed to turn over the rivers and clean the stables and explains that today the expression Augean stables is used for something utterly desolated, chaotic and dirty, something that simply "cries" for cleaning.
Golden horses from the augean stables
He gradually defeats the surly Eric, who tries to hide behind his mother's words, 'My Mum says if a teacher smites me we can sue them!' The final task, cleaning the Augean stables, requires Eric to rid the school loos of the smell of wee.
Dougherty John: Zeus Sorts It Out
Given the magnitude of his labors - killing the Nemean lion, cleaning the Augean stables, fetching the golden apples of the Hesperides, and the list goes on - you can't blame Herakles for being weary.
A 13th labor for Herakles
Students of mythology and users of the English language have likely heard something decidedly unpleasant labeled as "the Augean stables." The phrase originated in the myth where King Augeas housed 3,000 oxen and never bothered to get the building cleaned.
Cleaning Fannie's and Freddie's stables
SURELY the time has come to clean out the Augean stables.
Where's Heracles when you need him?
The local authorities should also show activity and responsibility to cleanse the Augean stable of corruption in public health sector.
BALOCHISTAN'S NEGLECTED HEALTH SECTOR
If you tell the standard-bearers of this army, and they are to be found everywhere, that they should have patience and wait for the political process to bring about change and cleanse the Augean stables, the ready response is that if the nation waits any longer there will be nothing left to save.
Rage of the virtue brigade