clean out
Empty something completely; take every last bit.
Updated September 21, 2026
clean out pronunciation
/KLEEN out/
Meaning
To clean out a shed, freezer, or toolbox means you strip it bare. Same idea when hungry kids clean out the fridge, or a poker night cleans somebody out of cash. In redneck talk it is plain talk for leave nothing behind.
How folks use it
- “We need to clean out that barn before we put the hay in.”
- “Those boys cleaned out the leftovers before I even sat down.”
Origin and etymology
Clean out has meant empty by clearing since at least the mid-1800s in general English. The slang sense of taking all someone's money shows up by the early 1800s in gambling talk. Rural Southern speech uses both the chore sense and the stripped-broke sense without much fuss.
Frequently asked questions
Does clean out always mean tidy up?
Not really. Sometimes you are organizing. Sometimes you are just emptying it, or taking every scrap of food or money.