the coast is clear

idiom

used to mean that someone can go somewhere or do something without being caught or seen because no one is in the area
OK, the coast is clear—you can come out now!

Examples of the coast is clear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Pérez Tejada says there are also lookouts all around, waiting to signal when the patrols have moved on and the coast is clear. David Culver, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024 If that doesn’t work, turn right on red when the coast is clear. Miami Herald Staff Report, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2024 The Triton could stay down for as long as five days, resurfacing when the coast is clear to charge its batteries and phone home. Will Knight, WIRED, 25 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the coast is clear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Dictionary Entries Near the coast is clear

Cite this Entry

“The coast is clear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20coast%20is%20clear. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

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