clear out

What does "clear out" mean?

1. To remove things from a place
2. To leave a place quickly
3. To make someone leave

Examples

• We need to clear out the attic before selling the house.
• Clear out! This is a private property!
• The police cleared out the protesters.
• I spent the weekend clearing out old files.
• Everyone cleared out when the fire alarm went off.

How to use it

'Clear out!' as a command is quite direct and can sound rude. More polite versions exist.

Word order

Object can go between: 'clear them out' or 'clear out the crowd'

Similar expressions

Opposites

Related phrasal verbs

• clear up

  To explain or resolve a misunderstanding

• clear off

  To leave a place

• get out

  To leave a place, room, or vehicle

• turn out

  To have a particular result or end in a certain way

• go out

  To leave your home for social activities or entertainment

• give out

  To distribute something to multiple people