这个表达中的单词slate1的意思是石板。在维多利亚年代,因为能便捷地随时擦净重写,孩子们多在深色石板上训练写字,而不是纸张。那时,很多小商铺也是用石板给客户记账的,月底结算后,重新开始计算。因此,成语start with a clean slate的意思就由此而来:不计过去,重新开始。
例句
Jack2 got into a lot of trouble at school last year, but with a new school year and a new teacher, hes starting with a clean slate.
杰克去年在学校里闯了不少祸,但目前新学年,新老师,他可以改过自新,重新开始。
In the last few months Ive developed some bad habits, but for the new year Im going to start with a clean slate.
过去几个月里我培养了一些不好的习惯。但在新的一年里,我下决心要洗心革面,重新开始。
George and I sat down and agreed that whats happened in the past is in the past, but now we shall start with a clean slate.
乔治和我坐下来,达成了共识。大家要既往不咎,重新开始。