in the clear
in the clear
Deemed innocent or able to avoid blame for some crime or misdeed. No one saw us take the money from the cash register, so we're totally in the clear! The jury deliberated and determined that my client was in the clear.
See also: clear
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
*in the clear
1. Lit. not obstructed; not enclosed. (*Typically: be ~; get [into] ~; get someone or something [into] ~.) You're in the clear. Go ahead and back up. Once the deer got into the clear, it ran away.
2. Fig. to be innocent; not to be guilty. (*Typically: be ~; get [into] ~; get someone or something [into] ~.) Don't worry, Tom. I'm sure you're in the clear. I'll feel better when I get into the clear.
See also: clear
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
in the clear
1. Free from danger or suspicion of wrongdoing, as in The evidence showed that the suspect was actually in the clear. [1920s]
2. Having enough money to make a profit, as in When they added up the box-office returns, they found they were several thousand dollars in the clear . [Slang; 1920s]
See also: clear
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
in the clear
1. If someone is in the clear, they are free from blame or suspicion. Then Rickmore spoke: `If your chief clerk confesses to the police what really happened, I'll be in the clear.' Their possessions had not been searched so they were not officially in the clear.
2. If someone is in the clear, they are no longer in danger or trouble. That's when the hospital called with the results of the tests, and I found out I was in the clear.
3. If someone is a certain number of points in the clear in a competition or contest, they are winning by that amount. There was more gloomy news for the Prime Minister in an opinion poll yesterday which showed the opposition five points in the clear.
See also: clear
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
in the clear
1 no longer in danger or suspected of something. 2 with nothing to hinder someone in achieving something.See also: clear
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
in the ˈclear
(informal) no longer in danger or likely to be blamed, punished, etc: She told the police that Jim was with her when the burglary happened, so that put him in the clear.See also: clear
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
in the clear
1. Free from burdens or dangers.
2. Not subject to suspicion or accusations of guilt: The evidence showed that the suspect was actually in the clear.
See also: clear
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- be in the clear
- beat the rap
- have (one) dead to rights
- have dead to rights
- have someone dead to rights
- take the
- take the hit (for someone or something)
- catch (one) dead to rights
- take the rap (for someone or something)
- take the rap for something