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clear the decks

phrase

: to make sweeping preparations for action

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clear the cobwebs
clear the decks
clear the way
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“Clear the decks.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clear%20the%20decks. Accessed 12 Dec. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Definition revised
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