Clean Out

In Southern and Appalachian speech, clean out means completely gone or entirely used up, referring to a total absence of something that was once available.

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synonyms: all gone, sold out, nothing left, empty

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Out in the country ,'clean out' is completely out, none left, empty.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Out in the country ,'clean out' is completely out, none left, empty.

Pronunciation

[KLEEN OWT]
/klin aʊt/

Meaning & Usage

- Completely gone; none remaining (adverbial phrase)

Estel:

Did you get any?

Elmer:

I couldn’t - they was clean out.

★ This use of clean out doesn’t need an object - if folks know what you’re talkin’ about, the meaning’s already clear. ★

Origin and Etymology

The use of "clean" as an adverbial intensifier meaning "completely" traces back to older English and Scots forms carried into American English through early settlement. In Southern and Appalachian speech, this intensifier pattern remained productive, allowing phrases like "clean out" to function independently to indicate total depletion. This reflects regional preservation rather than Southern origin.

Usage Notes

"Clean out" is commonly used in Southern and Appalachian speech to indicate that nothing remains of a particular item, supply, or resource, often without stating the object explicitly. In other regions, speakers more often use phrases like "sold out" or "all gone."

Commonly appears without a direct object when context is understood
Part of a broader Southern/Appalachian pattern using clean as an intensifier

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does "clean out" always mean something was removed?

In this regional use, it means nothing remains, not necessarily that something was actively removed.

Is this the same as "cleaned out"?

No. "Cleaned out" often implies an action, while "clean out" here describes a state of absence.

Is this phrase still used today?

Yes. It remains common in Southern and Appalachian spoken English.

Is this usage formal English?

No. It is an informal, regional construction.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, December 18). Clean Out. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/clean-out
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Clean Out." HillbillySlang.com, 18 Dec. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/clean-out.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Clean Out." HillbillySlang.com. December 18, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/clean-out.