in the clear

in the clear idiom
  1. Free from danger or suspicion of wrongdoing, as in The evidence showed that the suspect was actually in the clear. [1920s]
  2. Having enough money to make a profit, as in When they added up the box-office returns, they found they were several thousand dollars in the clear. [Slang; 1920s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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