View synonyms for clean up

clean up

verb

to rid (something) of dirt, filth, or other impurities
to make (someone or something) orderly or presentable
(tr) to rid (a place) of undesirable people or conditions
the campaign against vice had cleaned up the city
informal, (intr) to make a great profit

noun

1. the process of cleaning up or eliminating something
2. ( as modifier )
  a cleanup campaign
informal, a great profit

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Also, clean out . Make clean or orderly, as in She cleaned up the cellar after the flood , or Dad said he cleaned out the garage . [First half of 1800s]

Also, wash up . Wash or tidy oneself, as in Do I have time to clean up before dinner?

Settle or dispose of, as in He cleaned up all the bills that had arrived during his vacation .

Bring to a certain standard of order or morality, as in This script won't do; we'll have to clean up the language . Applied to personal behavior, it also is put as clean up one's act , as in He'll have to clean up his act and obey the rules . [c. 1900]

Succeed, especially financially, as in We had fantastic luck at the races and really cleaned up . [ Slang ; first half of 1800s]

Also, clean up on . Defeat or vanquish, kill, as in We're cleaning up all the other teams , or With enough ammunition we could clean up on this pocket of snipers . [ Slang ; mid-1800s]

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They tend to go on sale at the end of the year, pushed down by others who are cleaning up their portfolios.

Related Words

cleanup clean wool

Browse