Meaning
To set aside past mistakes, debts, or grievances and start over with a fresh, unburdened record.
It applies equally to relationships, finances, careers, and legal or disciplinary records — any situation where the past is deliberately set aside rather than held against someone.
Origin
Slate was used for writing tablets as early as the late 14th century, prized because chalk or slate-pencil marks on it could be wiped away and the surface reused. The specific figurative phrase “clean slate,” meaning a fresh start free of old obligations, is documented in English from 1856 — and its more precise, often-overlooked origin is commercial rather than academic: tavern keepers and shopkeepers commonly kept running customer tabs chalked up on a slate board, and wiping that slate clean meant a debt had been settled and the account was starting over at zero. The schoolroom image of children erasing writing tablets reinforced the same idea of erasability but is secondary to this ledger-wiping practice as the direct source of the phrase’s meaning of forgiveness and a fresh start.
Examples
After the apology, they agreed to wipe the slate clean.
The new manager wants to wipe the slate clean and forget last year’s conflicts.
He hopes the settlement will wipe the slate clean between the two companies.
A: Are you still upset about the argument? B: No, let’s just wipe the slate clean.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Wipe the slate clean' mean?
To set aside past mistakes, debts, or grievances and start over with a fresh, unburdened record.
It applies equally to relationships, finances, careers, and legal or disciplinary records — any situation where the past is deliberately set aside rather than held against someone.