course is cleared

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "course is cleared" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to indicate that a path or situation is free of obstacles, but it is not commonly used. Example: "After the storm passed, the course is cleared for the race to begin."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

After main course is cleared, Cook A takes ice cream out of freezer, Cook B puts dessert plates on table and Cook C makes coffee.

The New York Times

Dribble a few drops of sauce on the table (no, you'd never do that, but one of your friends might), and when the course is cleared a fresh cloth will be unrolled on top of the soiled one.

The New York Times - Food

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

After the main course was cleared, I asked him for the Chocolate Bluebird.

The New York Times - Food

Once the laughter died down and the salad course was cleared, the real business began in earnest.

The New York Times

After the dishes from the main course were cleared, the two toddlers proceeded to open every packet of artificial sweetener, sprinkling the contents over the table.

The New York Times

Play was canceled for the rest of the day and the course was cleared of spectators, many of whom had sought shelter before the tornado hit.

The New York Times - Sports

But there could be unscheduled leaves of absence after main courses were cleared, and one night one server after another tried to take our order before anyone had told us about the specials.

The New York Times - Food

Miller's course is clear.

The New York Times - Sports

The answer, of course, is clear: turn the other cheek.

The New York Times

If you are an airline chief executive, your course is clear.

The New York Times

If the results are good, the course is clear: bring him on.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where progress can now occur without hindrance, consider using more common phrases like "the path is clear" or "the way is clear" instead of the less conventional "course is cleared".

Common error

Avoid using "course is cleared" when you actually mean a course of study has been completed or a course's content has been simplified. Use a more precise phrase that reflects the intended meaning in educational contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "course is cleared" is as a passive construction, indicating that the "course" (which could be a path, a process, or a direction) has been acted upon and is now free of obstruction. However, Ludwig flags this phrase as potentially confusing due to its non-standard usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "course is cleared" is used to indicate that a path or process is now free of obstacles, but it's not a common or widely accepted expression. Ludwig AI reports that its usage may cause confusion. More standard alternatives like "path is clear" or "way is clear" are generally preferred for clarity and broader understanding. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media contexts, with a rarer occurrence in scientific or formal business settings. While not grammatically incorrect, its infrequent usage and potential for misinterpretation suggest opting for more conventional phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

path is clear

Replaces "course" with "path", emphasizing a literal or figurative route being free from obstacles.

way is clear

Substitutes "course" with "way", indicating that progress is unimpeded.

route is open

Uses "route" instead of "course", suggesting a journey or process is now accessible.

road is unblocked

Replaces "course" with "road", focusing on the physical or metaphorical removal of obstructions.

pathway is unobstructed

Emphasizes the lack of impediments on a path or route.

obstacles are removed

Focuses on the action of removing obstacles, rather than the state of the course.

hurdles are overcome

Highlights the successful overcoming of challenges, implying the course is now clear.

green light is given

Metaphorically indicates permission or approval to proceed.

all systems are go

Implies that everything is ready and prepared for the next stage.

mission is a go

Indicates that the mission can proceed and implies that every obstacle has been removed.

FAQs

What does "course is cleared" mean?

The phrase "course is cleared" suggests that a path, route, or process is now free of obstacles and ready to proceed. However, it's not a very common expression, so alternatives may be more easily understood.

What can I say instead of "course is cleared"?

You can use alternatives like "path is clear", "way is clear", or "route is open" depending on the context.

Is "course is cleared" grammatically correct?

While not strictly ungrammatical, "course is cleared" is not a standard or widely used phrase in English. Ludwig AI suggests it may cause confusion. More conventional phrases are generally preferred.

When is it appropriate to use "course is cleared"?

It might be appropriate in specific, niche contexts where "course" refers very literally to a path or track that has been physically cleared. However, in most situations, alternatives like "the way is clear" are more suitable.