Used often in cooking to mean removing unwanted parts from liquids like soups or stocks.

Cooking Context

It usually involves a gentle, careful action to clear the liquid’s surface without disturbing the remainder.

Surface Action

It can be used literally to refer to the physical act of removing something from the surface.

It suggests dishonesty, often involving finances, by taking small amounts typically unnoticed over time.

It has a negative connotation, implying theft or corruption, and can harm reputations.