A clean slate is a fresh start with past mistakes wiped away. Start with a clean slate, wipe the slate clean, a clean slate for everybody.
The picture is a school slate rubbed out, and the debt sense is older still, since shops chalked up what was owed. It usually needs somebody else's permission, which is what makes it a gift.
1phraseclean slateA fresh start with all past mistakes wiped away.
“The new manager promised everybody a clean slate.”
clean slate is a phrase.
Practised in Idioms