clean up

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Explanation of "Clean Up"

Definition: "Clean up" is a verb phrase that means to make something clean, neat, or organized. It can also mean to make oneself look presentable or tidy.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use "clean up" when you want to talk about making a space tidy or when you want to refer to getting ready, especially for an event.
• It can also be used in a financial context, meaning to make a lot of money quickly.

Examples:

1. Making a Space Neat:
   • "Please clean up your room before your friends come over."
2. Getting Ready:
   • "Make sure to clean up before you go to the party."
3. Financial Context:
   • "The investor really cleaned up when the stock market went up."

Advanced Usage:

• "Clean up" can be used in more complex sentences, such as:
  • "After the event, we had to clean up the hall, making sure every chair was in place."
  • "She cleaned up nicely for the wedding, looking very elegant."

Word Variants:

• Noun Form: "Clean-up" can be used as a noun, referring to the act of making something clean or organized.
  • Example: "The community organized a clean-up to help the local park."

Different Meanings:

1. Physical Cleaning: Making a space tidy.
2. Personal Appearance: Getting dressed nicely or grooming oneself.
3. Financial Gain: Making a significant profit quickly.

Synonyms:

• Tidy up
• Organize
• Straighten up
• Clear up

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Tidy up: Similar to clean up, means to make things neat.
  • Example: "Tidy up your desk; it looks messy."
• Clear up: Can mean to make something tidy or to solve a problem.
  • Example: "Let’s clear up the confusion about the meeting time."

Conclusion:

"Clean up" is a versatile phrase that can be used in many contexts, from cleaning spaces and personal grooming to making profits.

Academic

Verb

1. make oneself clean, presentable or neat
   • Clean up before you go to the party
2. dispose of
   • settle the bills
3. make a big profit; often in a short period of time
   • The investor really cleaned up when the stock market went up
4. put (things or places) in order
   • Tidy up your room!

Synonyms

• tidy
• tidy up
• neaten
• straighten
• straighten out
• square away