crystal clear
/ˌkrɪstl ˈklɪr/
Reviewed on
Type
Adjective
Meaning
Completely transparent and untainted by dirt or cloudiness.
We could see small fish swimming through the crystal clear water.
The resort is famous for its crystal clear mountain streams.
Extremely easy to understand or impossible to misinterpret.
The manager made the new safety instructions crystal clear to everyone.
Were the directions crystal clear, or should I explain them again?
How it's used
When this means “easy to understand”
- crystal clear to the team
Say “crystal clear to them.” Not “crystal them clear.”
The instructions were crystal clear to the staff.
When this means “make something unmistakable”
- make the expectations crystal clear
- make crystal clear what needs to happen
Say “make it crystal clear.” Not “crystal it clear.”
She made her expectations crystal clear during the meeting.
Collocations
- crystal clear water
- crystal clear explanation
- crystal clear understanding
Synonyms
- transparent
- lucid
- unambiguous
- explicit