clean sheet

Definitions

1. An absence of debts or indictments.
   figuratively
2. A game played without having conceded a goal.
   figuratively
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see clean, sheet.

Equivalents

Examples

“Birmingham had their defence to thank⟳ for a clean⟳ sheet, although they were lucky to escape⟳ when Manuel da Costa shot off-target and then headed wide.”

“Nigeria had scored only three goals in three games, all against Australia, but they had also kept two clean⟳ sheets and their defensive organisation continued to frustrate England immensely.”

CEFR level