Clean as a whistle Meaning in English
expression
ˈkɫin/ /ˈæz/, /ˈɛz/ /ˈeɪ/, /ə/ /ˈhwɪsəɫ/, /ˈwɪsəɫ
KLEEN-uhz-uh-WIH-suhl
klˈiːn/ /ˈæs/ /æɪ/ /wˈɪsəl
kleen-az-uh-WIS-uhl
Definition
An informal expression meaning very clean, spotless, or sometimes completely innocent or free from guilt.
Usage & Nuances
Primarily informal and often used for emphasis. Commonly describes spotless cleaning ('the kitchen is clean as a whistle'), but can also refer to someone's innocence ('his record is clean as a whistle'). Not literal—it's an idiom.
Spanish: limpio como una patena - impecablePortuguese (BR): limpo como um apito - totalmente limpoPortuguese (PT): limpo como um apito - impecavelmente limpoChinese (Simplified): 干净得像口哨一样 - 非常干净Chinese (Traditional): 乾淨得像哨子一樣 - 非常乾淨Hindi: सीटी जितना साफ - बहुत साफArabic: نظيف كالصفارة - نظيف تمامًاBengali: ঝকঝকে পরিষ্কার - নিষ্কলঙ্ক (অপরাধ মুক্ত)Russian: чистый как стеклышко - безупречно чистый - совершенно невиновныйJapanese: ピカピカにきれい - 完全に無実Vietnamese: sạch bong kin kít - hoàn toàn vô tộiKorean: 말끔하게 깨끗한 - 완전히 결백한Turkish: tertemiz - tamamen masumUrdu: بالکل صاف - بالکل بے گناہIndonesian: bersih mengkilap - benar-benar tidak bersalah
Example Sentences
The kitchen is clean as a whistle after we finished cleaning.
basic
His record is clean as a whistle—no crimes at all.
basic
Your shoes are clean as a whistle now.
basic
Just finished cleaning my car—it's clean as a whistle inside and out!
natural
After hours of scrubbing, the bathroom was finally clean as a whistle.
natural
He walked out of court clean as a whistle, free of all charges.
natural