clean bill of health

noun
1.
a certificate of health attesting the lack of a contagious disease, as on a ship.
2.
an assurance, as by a doctor, that one is in good health.
3.
Also, clean bill. an assurance, especially an official verdict by a committee, that a group or an individual has proved, under investigation, to be morally sound, fit for office, etc.
Origin
1850-55
Examples from the web for clean bill of health
  • Foreign observers are expected to give the vote a clean bill of health.
  • More padding-in the form of cash in the bank-will be necessary to secure a clean bill of health.
  • There could be a big shift if one of these were to be given a clean bill of health.
  • The launch itself, as always, also depends on the weather and on a clean bill of health for the shuttle.
  • Researchers don't know what fetal cells are doing in tumors, but they aren't prepared to give the cells a clean bill of health.
  • As such it could be expected to give the lab a clean bill of health.
  • With a clean bill of health, keepers gave her free reign of the lion exhibit.
  • All results were negative and the fish were given a clean bill of health.
  • There, both birds were given a clean bill of health.
  • Exercise and healthy eating will make you feel great, but only a doctor can give you a clean bill of health.
clean bill of health in Culture

clean bill of health definition


To “get a clean bill of health” is to be told by some authoritative source, generally a doctor, that one is perfectly healthy. The phrase is sometimes used figuratively to indicate that a person or organization has been found free of any sort of irregularity: “After looking into her financial background, the Senate gave the nominee a clean bill of health.”

Idioms and Phrases with clean bill of health

clean bill of health

A report confirming the absence of fault or guilt in a person or thing, as in Jeff checked every component and gave the computer a clean bill of health, or He had a foolproof alibi so the police had to give him a clean bill of health. This term comes from a 17th-century practice of requiring ships to produce a medical document (bill) attesting to the absence of infectious disease on board before landing.