Could you help explain the meaning of "cleared"?
the hunger games chapter 8
He must have been watching me the whole time. He was only fourteen, but he cleared six feet and was as good as an adult to me.
I can guess that he is six feet tall, but this usage is strange I can't find it in the dictionary.

Question

Answer

"he cleared six feet" = He is taller than 6 feet.

Good luck!

Answer

GuideDogSaint is on the right track. You "clear" an obstacle when you don't hit it. The amount of space in between is the "clearance." In a high jump, the athlete tries to jump over a pole at a certain height. You can hit the pole or clear it. If the pole is set at six feet and you clear it, your jump is at least six feet high. You don't know how much higher. So by extension "he cleared six feet" means "I am sure he was more than six feet tall, but I don't know how much more." This isn't a standard way to describe someone's height. You can call it a colorful turn of phrase.

Answer

I agree it's a bit strange. At first I thought it meant he had jumped over something six feet high!

Answer

Agree with Ian's answer: He is taller than six feet.

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