clears the decks (verb) clear the decks: get ready for action
Sinonime: abate, back, close, decline, decrease, depart, die off, diminish, drain away, draw back, drop*, dwindle, ebb, fade, fall back, flow back, go away, go back, lessen, reduce, regress, retire, retract, retreat, retrograde, retrogress, return, shrink, sink, subside, taper, wane