clean up — 3 meanings

One phrase, 3 meanings. Learn them one at a time, then test yourself.

phrasal verb3 meanings

clean up

make clean make a large profit remove corruption

Meaning 1 · most common

make clean

clean up sth

To make a place or thing tidy and free from dirt or mess.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

We need to clean up the kitchen after dinner.

A: This living room is a mess!
B: I know, let's clean up before our guests arrive.

Common mistake

Not: I'll clean up it later.

Say: I'll clean it up later.

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'clean it up'.

More on “make clean”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

In my opinion, it's important for everyone in the family to help clean up the house because it teaches responsibility.

Tell it apart

I cleaned up the mess.

tidied it away

I cleared out the cupboard.

emptied it of unwanted stuff

Goes with

clean up + mess

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Next meaning: make a large profit

Meaning 2

make a large profit

informal

To earn a lot of money, especially in a short time or from a particular event.

How oftenNow and then

LevelB2

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

They really cleaned up at the music festival, selling hundreds of T-shirts.

A: How did your online shop do during the holiday sale?
B: We cleaned up! Sales were way better than last year.

Common mistake

Not: They cleaned up a lot of money.

Say: They cleaned up. / They made a lot of money.

In this sense 'clean up' stands alone (no object) — 'clean up a lot of money' mixes it with the tidying sense.

More on “make a large profit”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

Some people believe that companies should not be allowed to clean up by raising prices during emergencies, as it can be unfair to customers.

Tell it apart

They cleaned up at the fair.

made a big profit

They cleaned up after the fair.

tidied the mess away

Goes with

clean up (profit)

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Next meaning: remove corruption

Meaning 3

remove corruption

clean up sth

To eliminate unethical, illegal, or corrupt practices from an organization, institution, or system, often as part of reform.

How oftenNow and then

LevelC1

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

The new government promised to clean up the police force and restore public trust.

A: The company has had a lot of scandals lately. Do you think the new CEO can turn things around?
B: I hope so. They really need someone who can clean up the organisation.

Common mistake

Not: He promised to clean up ~~with~~ the corruption.

Say: He promised to clean up the corruption. / ...clean up the department.

'Clean up' takes the object directly — no 'with'.

More on “remove corruption”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

If governments are serious about fighting corruption, they must take concrete steps to clean up their institutions and enforce transparency.

Tell it apart

The board cleaned up the company.

removed the corruption

The board shook up the company.

made big disruptive changes

Goes with

clean up + institution

Practice saying this

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make clean make a large profit remove corruption