Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

the coast is clear

/ðə ˌkoʊst ɪz ˈklɪəɹ/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.72 in modern English

Syllables: the -coast is -clear
IPA: /ðə ˌkoʊst ɪz ˈklɪəɹ/

22

Scrabble Score

15

Letters

3

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

phrase

There is no danger; one can freely pass through a region without risk of discovery.

Example Sentences

"Wait there, watch the back of the building, and whistle when the coast is clear."
"Seeing that the coast was clear, Tarzan stepped into the darkened entrance […]"
"Sometimes Dorothy herself left me. She had plenty of friends in the studio, and would slip away for a chat when the coast seemed clear."

Etymology

Compare Spanish no hay moros en la costa.

Questions

How do you pronounce the coast is clear?: The recorded pronunciation is /ðə ˌkoʊst ɪz ˈklɪəɹ/.
What does the coast is clear mean?: There is no danger; one can freely pass through a region without risk of discovery.
Where does the coast is clear come from?: Compare Spanish no hay moros en la costa.

How to pronounce the coast is clear

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “the coast is clear”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ðə ˌkoʊst ɪz ˈklɪəɹ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “the coast is clear”.
Repeat and practice — Say “the coast is clear” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.