crystal clear
Completely clear (in various senses).
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The instructions for the project are crystal clear.”
“After the manager explained the new policy, the expectations for the team were crystal clear.”
“Despite the complexity of the legal argument, the judge made his final ruling crystal clear to everyone in the courtroom.”
From Middle English *cristal cleer*, the phrase serves as an emphatic form of *clear* in both its visual and metaphorical senses. The comparison of lucidity to the transparency of quartz crystal dates to the 14th century, paralleling the auditory equivalent *clear as a bell*.
- 01
clear blue water
An obvious, unambiguous divide between the policies of two parties.
- 02
clear cut
Straightforward, obvious, simple, or basic.
- 03
clear off
To pay off debts.
- 04
clear one's lines
To clear the ball away from a dangerous position.
- 05
clear the air
To assuage a hostile or uncomfortable situation.
- 06
clear the table
To remove plates, etc. from a table after a meal.
- 07
crystal dick
Erectile dysfunction caused by methamphetamine use or other drug use.
- 08
make oneself clear
To have one's meaning fully understood.
Last updated August 10, 2026