the coast is clear
There is no danger; one can freely pass through a region without risk of discovery.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Wait until the coast is clear before you cross the street.”
“We waited in the hallway until the coast was clear so we could surprise our friend.”
“Once the security guard turned the corner, she signaled that the coast was clear for them to enter the restricted archive.”
disputed origin
Compare Spanish no hay moros en la costa.
- 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 clear
Completely clear (in various senses).
- 08
make oneself clear
To have one's meaning fully understood.
Last updated August 10, 2026