Clean Bill of Health

Also: Give Someone a Clean Bill of Health

Meaning of Idiom ‘Clean Bill of Health’

1. A clean bill of health is a report or notification from a doctor that one is healthy and free of disease or other health conditions. ¹,²,³

2. A report that states the absence of fault or guilt in a person. ⁴

3. A report that states the absence of a flaw or malfunction in something, such as a computer or machine. ⁵

4. A report that an organization is operating correctly and within guidelines or regulations. ⁶

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Usage

Usually, someone is ‘given a clean bill of health’ by a doctor or other health professional. To give someone a clean bill of health is to declare them healthy and fit after a thorough examination. ⁷

Examples Of Use

“My doctor gave me a clean bill of health. He says I can compete in the marathon with no worries.”

“After his cancer scare, Dan was happy to be given a clean bill of health by his doctor.”

“After a thorough inspection, the restaurant was given a clean bill of health by the local health department.”

“Our books have been gown over thoroughly by an independent firm and we were given a clean bill of health.”

Origin

This idiom is based on the 17th century practice of a ship’s crew being examined by a health official and the ship being given a clean bill of health if no infectious disease was found. A ship had to present this ‘bill’ before landing at a port. ⁸

More Idioms Starting with C

• Chatterbox
• Copycat
• Cotton To Someone or Something
• Cotton On To Something
• Cheap and Cheerful Meaning

More Bill Idioms

• What’s the Damage?
• Foot the Bill

More Clean Idioms

• Come Clean
• Spick and Span
• Clean Up Your Act
• Clean as a Whistle
• Clean as a Hound’s Tooth

More Health Idioms

References

1. Heacock, Paul. Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms]. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010.
2. McCarthy, Michael. Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms. Cambridge University Press, 2002
3. Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth M. The Wordsworth Dictionary of Idioms. Ware: Wordsworth, 1995.
4. Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.
5. Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.
6. Heacock, Paul. Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms]. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010.
7. Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.
8. Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.