reinen Tisch machen
to clear the air; to make a clean breast of things
Origin
Goes back to Latin "tabula rasa" (a smoothed, blank wax tablet): ancient writing tablets could be wiped clean by smoothing - figuratively, creating clear conditions.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Two-way prepositions with accusative (Wohin? / where to)Wechselpräpositionen mit Akkusativ (Wohin?)
- Two-way prepositions contrast: Wo? vs. Wohin? (where vs. where to)Wechselpräpositionen Kontrast: Wo? vs. Wohin?
- Positional verbs with two-way prepositions (stellen/stehen …)Lokale Verben mit Wechselpräpositionen (stellen/stehen …)
- Verb 'gehören' (to belong to, + dative)Verb 'gehören' (+ Dativ)
- Simple past 'musste' (had to, from müssen)Präteritum 'musste' (müssen)
- Simple past 'wollte' (wanted to, from wollen)Präteritum 'wollte' (wollen)
Examples
Lass uns reinen und .
Let's finally clear the air and talk everything through openly.