Clean up

verbal phrase

To make a place clean or tidy.

I need to clean up my room before my friends come over.
Visual representation of "clean up" - To make a place clean or tidy

Often appears as...

  • clean up room
  • clean up mess
verbal phrase

To rectify a problem or correct a mistake.

The company needed to clean up their act after the scandal.
Visual representation of "clean up" - To rectify a problem or correct a mistake

Often appears as...

  • clean up act
  • clean up behavior

Usage tips

Disapproving

verbal phrase

To gather something together and get rid of it.

The community group organized a day to clean up the litter in the park.
Visual representation of "clean up" - To gather something together and get rid of it

Often appears as...

  • clean up litter
  • clean up debris
verbal phrase

To earn a lot of money, especially in a short time.

I really cleaned up at the casino last night.
Visual representation of "clean up" - To earn a lot of money, especially in a short time

Often appears as...

  • clean up at casino
  • clean up on stock market

Usage tips

Colloquial

verbal phrase

To stop or give up bad or immoral behavior.

After years of shady business dealings, he has finally decided to clean up his act.
Visual representation of "clean up" - To stop or give up bad or immoral behavior

Often appears as...

  • clean up act
  • clean up behavior

Usage tips

Approving

Idiomatic

verbal phrase

To make a place clean or tidy.

I need to clean up my room before my friends come over.
Visual representation of "clean up" - To make a place clean or tidy

Often appears as...

  • clean up room
  • clean up mess
verbal phrase

To rectify a problem or correct a mistake.

The company needed to clean up their act after the scandal.
Visual representation of "clean up" - To rectify a problem or correct a mistake

Often appears as...

  • clean up act
  • clean up behavior

Usage tips

Disapproving

verbal phrase

To gather something together and get rid of it.

The community group organized a day to clean up the litter in the park.
Visual representation of "clean up" - To gather something together and get rid of it

Often appears as...

  • clean up litter
  • clean up debris
verbal phrase

To earn a lot of money, especially in a short time.

I really cleaned up at the casino last night.
Visual representation of "clean up" - To earn a lot of money, especially in a short time

Often appears as...

  • clean up at casino
  • clean up on stock market

Usage tips

Colloquial

verbal phrase

To stop or give up bad or immoral behavior.

After years of shady business dealings, he has finally decided to clean up his act.
Visual representation of "clean up" - To stop or give up bad or immoral behavior

Often appears as...

  • clean up act
  • clean up behavior

Usage tips

Approving

Idiomatic

Definition 1 of 5
Visual representation of "clean up"
LampPro Tip 1/2

Action Required

Use when someone must clean something physically themselves, not by someone else.

Illustration for Action Required
You'll need to clean up your spilled juice.
LampPro Tip 2/2

Immediate Response

Suggests taking quick action to tidy a mess or disorder.

Illustration for Immediate Response
Quickly clean up the broken glass before someone gets hurt.
Visual representation of the word "Clean up"

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