Heading
best of its kind. For synonyms, see A1 and Fizzing.
Clear, adj. and adv. (old).—Thick
with liquor. [Apparently
on the principle lucus a non
lucendo.]
1688. Shadwell, Sqr., Alsatia, I., iv. Yes, really I was clear; for I do not remember what I did.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Clear: very Drunk.
1699. Vanbrugh, Relapse, IV., iii. I suppose you are clear—you'd never play such a trick as this else.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. The cull is clear let's bite him.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
Verb.—See Clear Out.
Clear as Mud, adv. phr. (common)
= Not particularly lucid.
Clear Crystal, subs. (popular).—White
spirits, as gin and whisky,
but extended to brandy and rum.
Clear Grit, subs.—1. (Canadian).—A
member of the colonial
Liberal party.
1884. Fortnightly Review, May, 592. There arose up [in Canada] a political party of a Radical persuasion, who were called Clear Grits, and the Clear Grits declared for the secularisation of the Clergy Reserves.
2. (American).—The right sort; having no lack of spirit; unalloyed; decided.
1835-40. Haliburton ('Sam Slick'), Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xxxii. I used to think champagne no better nor mean cider . . . but if you get the clear grit there is no mistaking it.
1861. New York Tribune, 10 Oct. Nor do we think the matter much mended by a clear grit Republican convention, putting one or two Democrats at the foot of their tickets.
Clear out (or Clear off), verbal
phr. (colloquial).—1. To depart.
1825. J. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, II., 151. Like many a hero before him, he cleared out.
1861. Harper's Monthly, August. You'll have to clear out, and that pretty quick or I'll be after you with a sharp stick.
1885. Truth, 28 May, 1847. I would have the Canal under the control of an International Commission . . . and then I would clear out of the country.
1888. J. Rickaby, Moral Philos., 205. To warn the visitor to clear off.
2. (popular).—To rid of cash; to ruin; to 'clean out.'
1849-50. Thackeray, Pendennis. The luck turned from that minute . . . came away cleared out, leaving that infernal check behind me.
1884. Illustrated London News, Christmas Number, p. 6, col. 2. He cleared you out that night, old man.
Cleave, verb (old).—To be wanton;
used of women. [Quoted by
Grose, 1785.]
Cleft, subs. (common).—The
female pudendum. For synonyms,
see Monosyllable.
Clegg, subs. (Scots).—A horse-fly.
Clencher.—See Clincher.
Clergyman, subs. (common).—A
chimney-sweep. [In allusion to
the colour of 'the cloth.'] Clergymen
in their turn = 'chimney
sweeps.'
English Synonyms. Black draught; knuller; flue-faker; querier; chummy.
French Synonyms. Un artiste; Jean de la suie.
