Question

Clean Bill of Health declaration of satisfactory, healthy condition, or proven innocence

Accepted Answer

The gas station that inspected Dad's old car gave it a clean bill of health. In the 19th century people were often fearful that there might be diseases on ships that would dock in their cities. So health authorities had to inspect each ship before it could come near the wharf. If a ship was found to be free of disease, an official document called a "bill of health" was handed to the captain. Then the ship could dock. Today the expression refers to more than just medical health. If you've been accused of a crime, and then, after an investigation, were found not guilty, you're said to have been given "a clean bill of health."

Idiom	Clean Bill of Health
Example	The gas station that inspected Dad's old car gave it a clean bill of health.
Meaning	declaration of satisfactory, healthy condition, or proven innocence
Origin	In the 19th century people were often fearful that there might be diseases on ships that would dock in their cities. So health authorities had to inspect each ship before it could come near the wharf. If a ship was found to be free of disease, an official document called a "bill of health" was handed to the captain. Then the ship could dock. Today the expression refers to more than just medical health. If you've been accused of a crime, and then, after an investigation, were found not guilty, you're said to have been given "a clean bill of health."

Clean Bill Health Ship Found Gas Station Inspected