clear the decks (?.)
- abstract
- arrange
- ballast
- blow
- blow out
- break bulk
- break out ballast
- cast off
- cast out
- chuck
- clean out
- clean up
- clear
- clear away
- clear for action
- clear off
- clear out
- clear up
- consider every angle
- cure
- cut out
- defecate
- deplete
- deploy
- deport
- dispose of
- drain
- dress
- eject
- elide
- eliminate
- empty
- empty out
- eradicate
- evacuate
- exhaust
- exile
- expatriate
- expel
- fix
- fix up
- forearm
- get quit of
- get ready
- get rid of
- get shut of
- groom
- guard against
- hedge
- leave out nothing
- liquidate
- make arrangements
- make preparations
- make ready
- make sure
- make sure against
- marshal
- mobilize
- neaten
- outlaw
- overlook no possibility
- pick out
- plan
- play safe
- police
- police up
- prearrange
- prep
- prepare
- prepare for
- pretreat
- process
- provide
- provide a hedge
- provide against
- provide for
- purge
- put in shape
- put in trim
- ready
- ready up
- reef down
- remove
- root out
- root up
- scour out
- settle preliminaries
- shift ballast
- shoot ballast
- shorten sail
- spruce
- spruce up
- straighten up
- strike off
- strike out
- sweep out
- take measures
- take precautions
- take steps
- tan
- throw over
- throw overboard
- tidy
- tidy up
- treat
- trig up
- trim
- trim ship
- trim up
- try out
- unclog
- unfoul
- vent
- void
- weed out
- wing out ballast
