to sweep the deck
- phrasal verb
:
limpiar la cubierta
- Every evening, the sailors make sure to sweep the deck and tidy up after a long day.
Examples
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Have you swept the deck yet?
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The captain asked the crew to sweep the deck as part of the morning routine.
-
I was thinking, maybe you could sweep the deck while I fish?
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I have swept the decks clean.
-
Before setting sail, we need to sweep the deck to ensure it's clean.
Synonyms
242
1.0
To move a brush across something to clean or paint it
227
1.0
To clean a floor or surface by brushing away dirt with a broom
37
1.0
To clean a floor with a long handle and wet cloth
14
1.0
To clean the floor by moving dust and dirt with a broom
1
2.2
To remove dirt or leaves from a place using a broom
1
4.3
To clean a carpet or floor using a vacuum cleaner
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to clean the surface of a deck by sweeping' is directly and transparently derivable from the verb 'sweep' (remove dirt) combined with the noun 'deck' (flat platform), with 'the' as a simple determiner. This is a straightforward verb + object composition found in many languages and follows regular English combinatory patterns, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would understand it.
Etymology
Sweep the deck comes from life on ships: sailors used brooms to sweep the wooden deck clean of salt, water and loose ropes. Clearing the deck kept the ship safe and ready, so today sweep the deck means 'to clean' or 'tidy up' a deck or outdoor area.