Dear teachers,

Would you tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expressions in bold in the following sentences?

The list so settled is now a slate, unless some discontented magnate objects and threatens to withdraw. To do so is called “breaking the slate.” (J. Bruce, “The American Commonwealth”)

slate = a (peremptory) list of the candidates of a political party running for various offices

break the slate = decline/ withdraw one’s candidature = “crush” the list

V.