kliːn ʌp
neutral
beginner
- Base verb:
- clean
- Particle:
- up
- Separable:
- Yes
What does "clean up" mean?
- To make a place tidy by removing dirt or clutter
- To make a lot of money or profit
- To remove corruption or illegal activity
Examples
- Please clean up your room before dinner.
- The company cleaned up at the awards ceremony.
- The new mayor promised to clean up city hall.
- We spent all day cleaning up after the party.
- He cleaned up his act after getting in trouble.
How to use it
'Clean-up' (noun) or 'cleanup' refers to the process. 'Clean up your act' means to improve your behaviour.
Word order
Object can go between: 'clean the mess up' or 'clean up the kitchen'
Similar expressions
tidy
neaten
profit
reform
Opposites
mess up
dirty
corrupt
Related phrasal verbs
- clean out
To remove everything from inside a space
- get up
To rise from bed after sleeping
- turn up
To increase the volume, heat, or intensity of something
- give up
To stop trying to do something, often because it is too difficult
- bring up
To mention or introduce a topic in conversation
- go up
To increase in price, level, or amount
Use it in a practice answer
Try "clean up" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.