clear cut
Straightforward, obvious, simple, or basic.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The rules for this game are clear cut.”
“The instructions were not clear cut, so we had to ask the manager for help.”
“While the legal arguments were complex, the judge insisted that the moral obligations of the contract were entirely clear cut.”
- 01
clear blue water
An obvious, unambiguous divide between the policies of two parties.
- 02
clear off
To pay off debts.
- 03
clear one's lines
To clear the ball away from a dangerous position.
- 04
clear the air
To assuage a hostile or uncomfortable situation.
- 05
clear the table
To remove plates, etc. from a table after a meal.
- 06
crystal clear
Completely clear (in various senses).
- 07
cut a dash
To make a display of oneself; to give a conspicuous impression.
- 08
cut a deal
To reach a negotiated agreement.
Last updated August 10, 2026