clean someone's clock

clean (one's) clock

To thoroughly trounce, defeat, or beat up one. Watch it, pal, or I'll clean your clock for you! The visitors really cleaned the home team's clock tonight!
See also: clean, clock
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

clean someone's clock

Beat, thrash, or defeat someone decisively, as in He's much bigger than you and could easily clean your clock. This term originated in the military. The use of clock is unclear but possibly alludes to hitting someone in the face (for "clockface"). [Slang; mid-1900s]
See also: clean, clock
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

clean someone's clock

1 give someone a beating. 2 defeat or surpass someone decisively. North American informal
Clock is used here in the slang sense of ‘face’.
See also: clean, clock
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • clean (one's) clock
  • clean clock
  • clock out
  • punch a/the clock
  • punch the clock
  • clock in
  • set the/(one's) clock(s) forward
  • put the/(one's) clock(s) forward
  • move the/(one's) clock(s) forward
  • turn the/(one's) clock(s) forward
References in periodicals archive
"Basically, in but a few minutes and by merely swapping a few orifice plates, he or she could clean someone's clock and the control center would never catch on until someone physically inspected the orifice plate," said a former, long-time meter technician (who prefers anonymity for obvious reasons).
A SCADA Call to Arms