Is clean your plate formal or informal?

It is informal and often used with children. In adult conversation, it can sound a little direct.

Is clean your plate the same as finish your meal?

They are close, but not exactly the same. Finish your meal is more neutral and works better in polite adult speech.

Can I use clean your plate in business writing?

No, it is not common in business writing. Use finish your meal or complete your meal if needed.

← Dictionary

clean-your-plate

/ˌkliːn jɔː ˈpleɪt/

IELTSAcademic

idiom

To eat all the food on your plate. It is often used as a rule or request, especially for children.

My mother always told me to clean my plate.
Please clean your plate before you leave.
He was too full to clean his plate.

Adinary Nuance

Clean your plate is more like a rule or instruction than a neutral description. It sounds a bit old-fashioned or child-focused, especially in family settings. It is different from finish your meal, which is more neutral and can sound more polite in adult conversation. It is also different from eat up, which is shorter and more casual.

In other languages

Vietnamese: Ăn hết phần
Spanish: Acabar el plato
Chinese: 吃光盘子里的食物
Japanese: 食べ残さない
Korean: 접시를 비우다

Etymology

This phrase comes from everyday home and school language in modern English. It reflects the idea of finishing all the food served on a plate.

Common phrases

clean your platefinish your plateeat everything on your plate

Synonyms

finish eat up clear

Related words

meal portion hungry leftovers

Frequently asked questions

Is clean your plate formal or informal?: It is informal and often used with children. In adult conversation, it can sound a little direct.
Is clean your plate the same as finish your meal?: They are close, but not exactly the same. Finish your meal is more neutral and works better in polite adult speech.
Can I use clean your plate in business writing?: No, it is not common in business writing. Use finish your meal or complete your meal if needed.