A: How is your merger project going?

B: The previous negotiations did not go anywhere, and we intend to start them again next week with a clean slate.

Note: This idiom implies “with a fresh start” or “starting anew,” without being burdened by past actions or events. This phrase can be applied in various contexts, including personal relationships, professional environments, and educational settings. It suggests an opportunity to begin again without any negative history influencing the present. The origin of this phrase could be traced back to the classroom setting, where slate boards were employed for writing. At the end of a lesson, the slate would be wiped clean, ready for new lessons, giving rise to the term “clean slate.”