Let's Wipe the Slate Clean

Let's forget about it, let's move on, let's draw a line under it - Tournons la page

1. Years ago, people could go into a grocers or pub etc and buy things "on account".  A record of transactions and money owed was written on a slate.  At that time, the debt was to be cleared on payday and it was always a great day when the debt was paid and the slate wiped clean.  Although slate was eventually replaced by paper or electronic record, the term ‘wiping the slate clean’ still remains in usage in this context.  

2. During Victorian times, young schoolchildren used to write on slate boards made from a piece of quarry slate set in a wooden frame.  A pencil, also made of slate was used to write the letters.  The advantage of slates over paper was that they could be wiped clean and used again and again - very environmentally friendly!  Children had to bring a dampened cloth or sponge to school so that they could wipe their slates clean at the end of the lesson and start again but often they would use their own spit and the cuff of their sleeve! 

3. The third explanation for the expression ‘to wipe the slate clean’ is a nautical one.  The course steered and distances covered by a ship were recorded during each watch on a slate and after they were entered into the official log at the end of a watch, the slate carrying the ongoing recordings was wiped clean ready for the next watch to keep a fresh record.