clear that out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clear that out" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when instructing someone to remove or eliminate something, often in a context of tidying up or resolving confusion. Example: "Before we start the new project, let's clear that out and make sure everything is organized."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"It would take probably 10 battalions 10 years to clear that out".

The New York Times

"Given the high share of African-Americans that are long-term unemployed," Mr. Spriggs said, "it's just going to take a long time to clear that out".

The New York Times

"It would take probably 10 battalions 10 years to clear that out". Mr. Hussein's engineers acquired HMX and RDX when they embarked on a crash effort to build an atomic bomb in the late 1980's.

The New York Times

"I've been trying to, you know, do everything possible to clear that out.

The New York Times - Sports

They had to clear that out of the way before we could be transferred.

The Guardian

However, to date it is not clear that, out of a large number of options, which methods are robust against variability in the temporal dynamics of BOLD responses in block-design studies.

NeuroImage

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Clear all of that out, as far as I'm concerned.

Independent

It seems terribly clear that out-to-lunch gay liberationists (except, of course, Lambda Legal Defense, which hasn't been seen lunching in public since its inception) have between them fostered a culture, which if it cannot be accused of hypocrisy (and it can not), may be fairly accused of its opposite, sincerity.

The New York Times

So I'll just put that out, clear that up, five years later.

Huffington Post

But not every bill that clears that committee goes out with anti-ACORN language.

Huffington Post

But it's far from clear that kicking out experienced foreign nurses will magically result in an increase in the number of native British ones.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "clear that out" when you want to instruct someone to remove something physically or metaphorically. For instance, "Before starting, clear that out to make space."

Common error

Avoid using "clear that out" when a more precise verb is necessary. For instance, instead of saying "clear that out", specify the action: "delete that file" or "remove that item".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clear that out" functions primarily as a phrasal verb used to express the action of removing or eliminating something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this idiom is grammatically sound and can be used in various situations to indicate tidying or resolving ambiguity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

31%

Wiki

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "clear that out" is a grammatically correct and usable phrasal verb, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While "common" in everyday language, its frequency is more accurately described as "uncommon" when analyzing various sources. It functions to instruct or describe the removal of something, either literally or figuratively. While generally neutral, it leans towards the informal side and may require more precise alternatives in formal or scientific contexts. For example, instead of saying "clear that out", you might say "remove that", "eliminate that", or "resolve that issue". The most frequent contexts where this phrase is found are in "news & media", "science", and "wiki" sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clarify that out

Similar to 'clear that out', with a stronger emphasis on making something easier to understand.

clean that out

Similar meaning of removing something, but more specific to physical cleaning.

sort that out

Indicates resolving a problem or organizing something.

lay that out

Focuses on arranging or presenting information clearly.

eliminate that

Focuses on complete removal of something undesirable.

plain that out

This alternative focuses on making something understandable.

apparent that out

Changes the verb to focus on visibility or obviousness.

evident that out

Focuses on the quality of being easily seen or understood.

certain that out

Replaces 'clear' with 'certain', emphasizing assuredness.

are that out

Changes structure and focuses on an existing state.

FAQs

How can I use "clear that out" in a sentence?

You can use "clear that out" to mean removing something, both physically and metaphorically. For instance, "Let's clear that out before we start the new project" or "I need to clear that out of my mind".

What's a more formal alternative to "clear that out"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "remove that", "eliminate that", or "resolve that situation" instead of "clear that out".

Is there a difference between "clean that out" and "clear that out"?

While both phrases imply removal, "clean that out" usually refers to physical cleaning. For example, you would "clean the attic", but you might "clear the confusion".

Can "clear that out" be used in business writing?

Yes, but use it judiciously. In business writing, it's often better to opt for more specific and professional terms such as "remove", "eliminate", or "resolve", depending on the context.