clean sweeps

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
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

   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