What does clearing mean in the game curling?

Answer 1

If there is a lot of rocks in the front of the house (rings), the skip will ask the thrower to 'clear' or 'clean' the house. The skips is asking the thrower for a fast, hard shot to clear as many rocks away from the front as possible.

This type of shot is usually seen in the 9th or 10th for one of two reasons:

1. The team leading the game wants to keep the free guard zone (the ice in between the hog line and the 12 foot circle) clear of rocks so the team needing points has nothing to hide behind.

2. If your path to the button (pin in the middle of the house) you clean house to get to it.