clearing the decks

It briefly felt like he was clearing the decks to set out his own vision.

On 13 November, Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council rejected her appeal, clearing the decks for her execution.

Humza Yousaf spent his first few months as first minister effectively clearing the decks.

In addition, a three-year police contract approved last year provided $200,000 buyouts for up to 100 officers with at least 25 years of experience, with a goal of clearing the decks of employees who might not be on board with the department’s new direction.

If judging were truly merely the process of clearing the decks and applying the law to the facts, confirmation hearings would not be the partisan battlegrounds they have become.