Clean hands, clean plate.

Meaning: This means that your hands and the plate you are using to eat are free from dirt, marks, or stains.

Choice of Words: Clean means free from dirt, marks, or stains. Hands are the parts of your body at the end of your arms. Plate is a flat dish for serving food. When you put them together, "Clean hands, clean plate" means that your hands and the plate you are using to eat are free from dirt, marks, or stains.

Alternative Expressions

Wash your hands before you eat.

Meaning: This means that you should clean your hands before you start eating so that you don't get germs on your food.

Choice of Words: Wash means to clean something with water and soap. Hands are the parts of your body that you use to hold things. Before means earlier in time than something else. Eat means to put food into your mouth and chew it. When you put them together, "Wash your hands before you eat" means that you should clean your hands with water and soap before you start eating.

Make sure your plate is clean before you put food on it.

Meaning: This means that you should make sure your plate is clean before you put food on it so that you don't get germs on your food.

Choice of Words: Make means to cause something to happen. Sure means to be certain or confident about something. Clean means to make something free of dirt, germs, or other unwanted things. Plate is a flat dish that you eat from. Before means earlier in time than something else. Put means to place something somewhere. Food is anything that you eat. When you put them together, "Make sure your plate is clean before you put food on it" means that you should be certain that your plate is free of dirt, germs, or other unwanted things before you put food on it.

Related Expressions