wipe the board

USAGE SUMMARY

"wipe the board" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to physical boards, such as a chalkboard or whiteboard. For example, "Before the students arrived, I wiped the board clean with an eraser."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

The player with the sole king can wipe the board clean of all pieces at any point.

The New Yorker

They had to "wipe the board clean", he says, and with the charity calendars the airline was unnecessarily closing down its own customer base.

The Guardian - Business

The bill is heavily contaminated with the Tory philosophy and dogma of privatisation; it has alienated so many that the only way forward is to wipe the board clean and start again.

The Guardian

Saying it was time to "wipe the board and go back to square one", the winner of the poll in Flanders questioned the form and principle of the negotiations in which he had been involved with six other parties, three Flemish and as many French-speaking.

The Guardian

John McCain will wipe the board for the Republicans, and Obama will pick up all three for the Democrats.

Huffington Post

Spray the cleaner on the cloth and wipe the board.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Fish shakes his head, wiping the board clean.

The New Yorker

He carefully rinsed a small white towel in the deep sink next to the cutting board and wiped the board clean of scraps.

The New York Times

Adam Hart London If Mandelson believes Corbyn is unelectable, he should consider how the SNP wiped the board in Scotland with democratic socialist policies.

The Guardian

One popular card has a 1.5% chance of wiping the board clean; another has a 400% swing in the amount of damage it will randomly do on the board.

The Guardian - Tech

They wiped the board and were the supreme nation... with a haul of six gold, two silver and two bronze medals... and hopefully a bit of that has rubbed off on to us now.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wipe the board" to describe situations where a complete reset or fresh start is needed, whether it's in project management, conflict resolution, or personal development.

Common error

Avoid using "wipe the board" when only minor adjustments are needed. This phrase implies a complete overhaul, not just a simple correction or tweak.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wipe the board" functions as an idiomatic expression, typically used as a verb phrase. It signifies starting over, clearing away previous attempts, or negating prior conditions. As Ludwig AI states, it is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Wiki

33%

News & Media

33%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "wipe the board" is a common idiom used to signify a fresh start or a complete reset. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. While relatively uncommon, it appears across diverse contexts, including Wiki entries, news media, and scientific articles. Its function is to communicate a need to disregard previous actions and start anew. When using "wipe the board", be aware that it implies a complete overhaul, not just a minor adjustment. Consider more formal alternatives like "clear the slate" or "re-evaluate the strategy" for professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

go back to square one

This idiom refers to returning to the starting point of a project or process due to failure or lack of progress.

clear the slate

Similar to "wipe the board", this idiom refers to erasing past mistakes or debts to make a fresh start.

make a fresh start

This phrase emphasizes the opportunity to leave behind past issues and begin anew with a clean record.

start from scratch

This phrase implies completely restarting a project or task, similar to erasing everything on a board and beginning anew.

start over

A simple and direct way to express the act of beginning something again.

begin again

This is a more general way to express restarting, suggesting a return to the beginning.

reset everything

This phrase highlights the act of resetting a system or process to its initial state.

turn over a new leaf

This idiom suggests a significant change in behavior or attitude, symbolizing a new beginning.

erase all traces

This emphasizes the removal of all evidence or remnants of something, similar to completely cleaning a board.

obliterate the past

This phrase suggests a complete and decisive erasure of past events or experiences.

FAQs

How can I use "wipe the board" in a sentence?

You can use "wipe the board" to indicate a fresh start. For example, "After the failed experiment, we decided to "start from scratch" and wipe the board clean."

What does "wipe the board" mean in negotiations?

In negotiations, "wipe the board" often suggests that all previous agreements or proposals are discarded, and the parties will begin negotiations anew. This is similar to "going back to square one".

When is it appropriate to say "wipe the board" in a team meeting?

It's appropriate when a project has gone completely off track, and the team needs to disregard the current plan and "begin again" with a new strategy.

Are there any formal alternatives to "wipe the board"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "re-evaluate the strategy", "initiate a revised approach", or "clear the slate" to convey the same meaning with a more professional tone.