pass a sponge over the slate
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
In reference to a wet sponge being used to wipe a writing slate clean.
Verb edit
pass a sponge over the slate (third-person singular simple present passes a sponge over the slate, present participle passing a sponge over the slate, simple past and past participle passed a sponge over the slate)
- (obsolete) Synonym of wipe the slate clean. [19th century]
- Synonym: draw a sponge over the slate