clean sweep

Noun

clean sweep (plural clean sweeps)

1. A complete or overwhelming victory, especially one in which all or almost all possible electoral contests are won.
   • In November 1928, as the beneficiaries of this revulsion, the Liberals made a clean sweep of every seat on the borough council.1989, Geoffrey Alderman, “Municipal Reaction and the Rise of Labour”, in London Jewry and London politics, 1889-1986, →ISBN, page 70
   • By 1991 his constituency had made a clean sweep of all twelve local council seats, that's in part to Nellist’s high-profile efforts.1992, Richard Heffernan, Mike Marqusee, “The Purge”, in Defeat from the jaws of victory: inside Kinnock's Labour Party, →ISBN, page 296
2. The winning, by a person or team, of all the possible possible prizes, games, rounds or contests, etc in a competition, season or series.
   • Scott Russell, who had sewn up the Yokohama 750cc Supersport championship earlier in the year, completed a clean sweep of the series races with his ninth victory in Miami.1992 January, “Freddie is fastest in Miami”, in American Motorcyclist, volume 46, number 1, American Motorcyclist Association, →ISSN, page 38
   • He achieved a clean sweep winning four professional majors in a span of 294 days.2001 April 23, “Tiger Wins”, in JET, volume 99, number 19, Johnson Publishing Company, →ISSN, page 55

   Synonyms:

   podium sweep

3. (figuratively) A thorough change of policies, personnel or objects, removing or replacing all or almost all of that which existed previously.
   • These were unfortunate selections and Mr. Quincy, who had the consular appointments in charge, so made an almost clean sweep in that branch of the service, removing Republicans and putting Democrats in with “unprecedented vivacity.”1919, William Dudley Foulke, “CLEVELAND'S SECOND TERM”, in Fighting the Spoilsmen (Politics and People: The Ordeal of Self-Government in America), published 1974, →ISBN, page 96
   • [In 1951] Colby had an almost clean sweep of his closest official advisors.1994, Colin Baker, “Relationships with Officials”, in Development governor: a biography of Sir Geoffrey Colby, →ISBN, page 119