As clean as a whistle
adverb
Very clean, no dirt at all.
After hours of cleaning, the kitchen was as clean as a whistle.
Often appears as...
- spotless as a whistle
- sparkle as a whistle
Usage tips
Idiomatic
adverb
Not guilty or free of blame, with no evidence of wrong doing.
The judge found him to be as clean as a whistle and dismissed all charges against him.
Often appears as...
- innocent as a whistle
- clear as a whistle
Usage tips
Idiomatic
adverb
Very clean, no dirt at all.
After hours of cleaning, the kitchen was as clean as a whistle.
Often appears as...
- spotless as a whistle
- sparkle as a whistle
Usage tips
Idiomatic
adverb
Not guilty or free of blame, with no evidence of wrong doing.
The judge found him to be as clean as a whistle and dismissed all charges against him.
Often appears as...
- innocent as a whistle
- clear as a whistle
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphorical Use
The phrase is a metaphor, comparing something's cleanliness to a whistle's clear sound, not its physical state.
He scrubbed the car until it was as clean as a whistle.
Pro Tip 2/3Exaggeration for Effect
Often used to exaggerate how clean something is, implying it's exceptionally clean.
She left the bathroom as clean as a whistle; it was almost sparkling.
Pro Tip 3/3Common Collocations
Commonly found with words like 'spotless' and 'sparkle' to emphasize cleanliness.
After the deep clean, the floors were spotless as a whistle.
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphorical Use
The phrase is a metaphor, comparing something's cleanliness to a whistle's clear sound, not its physical state.
He scrubbed the car until it was as clean as a whistle.
Pro Tip 2/3Exaggeration for Effect
Often used to exaggerate how clean something is, implying it's exceptionally clean.
She left the bathroom as clean as a whistle; it was almost sparkling.
Pro Tip 3/3Common Collocations
Commonly found with words like 'spotless' and 'sparkle' to emphasize cleanliness.
After the deep clean, the floors were spotless as a whistle.
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphorical Use
The phrase is a metaphor, comparing something's cleanliness to a whistle's clear sound, not its physical state.
He scrubbed the car until it was as clean as a whistle.
Pro Tip 2/3Exaggeration for Effect
Often used to exaggerate how clean something is, implying it's exceptionally clean.
She left the bathroom as clean as a whistle; it was almost sparkling.
Pro Tip 3/3Common Collocations
Commonly found with words like 'spotless' and 'sparkle' to emphasize cleanliness.
After the deep clean, the floors were spotless as a whistle.
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