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Clear the decks

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

To prepare for action by removing obstacles or clutter; in poetry, a metaphor for mental or emotional readiness.

Detailed Definition
Clear the decks, nautical in origin, readies for new beginnings in adventure or decision-making verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Clear the decks,” the editor says, removing stale adjectives before the revision begins; The nautical idiom can prepare a poem for crisis: “Clear the decks, the storm is coming”; “Clear the decks of old forms” may invite experiment, though not contempt for tradition; A classroom prompt can ask writers to clear the decks by cutting every unnecessary line
Additional Notes
"Clear the decks" prepares for action in quest narratives. Educational tip: Metaphor readiness. Related: "all systems go." Teaches preparation motifs.
Also Known As
prepare make ready clear the way get set prepare for action remove obstacles
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