clean things up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clean things up" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe an action of tidying and organizing a mess of items. For example, "I need to clean things up before I can start the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

And does he have the power to clean things up?

Independent

I wanted to clean things up a bit".

The New York Times

"There's many years to clean things up, to smooth things over," Wallechinsky said.

The New York Times - Sports

Nigerians wanting to clean things up feared the anti-graft agency was failing.

The Economist

"The question is, are they going to clean things up before somebody outs them?

The New Yorker

They made a conscientious effort to clean things up and get the bad guys out.

The New York Times

"Bite the bullet, hunker down, clean things up, find the market you're good at".

The New York Times

A recent operation to clean things up has descended into farce, with some police themselves being taken hostage.

The Economist

Racing has its problems, and we need to clean things up before we lose the horse forever.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

These spring fertility rites were too much for the church fathers, who wheeled in St Valentine to clean things up.

The Guardian - Books

Since the Unicover mess broke, Goldman has been trying to clean things up.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and choose more formal alternatives like "rectify" or "remedy" when writing for academic or high-level business communications.

Common error

While "clean things up" is widely understood, avoid overusing it in formal writing. Opt for more precise and sophisticated vocabulary depending on the specific context, such as "streamline operations" or "resolve discrepancies".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clean things up" functions primarily as a phrasal verb. Ludwig AI analysis and numerous examples from reliable sources confirm its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "clean things up" is a versatile phrasal verb that is grammatically sound and widely used, as confirmed by Ludwig. It generally conveys the idea of improving a situation by removing undesirable elements or resolving existing issues. While frequently found in news and media contexts, its applicability extends to formal business settings and informal conversations. When writing, be mindful of the specific context and audience; consider more formal alternatives when appropriate. The examples provided by Ludwig AI demonstrate the breadth of applications for this common and useful phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

straighten things out

Implies correcting errors or mismanagement to restore order.

sort things out

Focuses more on resolving confusion or disagreements, rather than physical cleaning or fixing problems.

set things right

Emphasizes correcting a wrong or injustice to achieve fairness.

clear up

Can refer to both physical cleaning and resolving misunderstandings or problems.

tidy up

Generally refers to making a place neat and organized, often physically.

put in order

Focuses on organizing or arranging items in a neat and systematic way.

fix things

A broad term for repairing or improving something that is broken or not working well.

remedy the situation

Implies correcting an undesirable or problematic situation.

sanitize the environment

Focuses on removing harmful elements to make it safe, often in a metaphorical sense.

rectify the matter

A more formal way of saying "correct a mistake or problem".

FAQs

How can I use "clean things up" in a sentence?

"Clean things up" is a versatile phrasal verb. It can refer to physical tidying, like, "I need to clean things up before the guests arrive". It can also refer to resolving problems or corruption, such as, "The new CEO was brought in to clean things up".

What are some alternatives to "clean things up"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "sort things out", "straighten things out", or "remedy the situation". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "clean up things" or "clean things up"?

"Clean things up" is the correct and more natural phrasal verb construction in English. "Clean up things" is less common and may sound awkward to native speakers.

In what situations is it appropriate to use "clean things up"?

"Clean things up" is suitable for a variety of situations, from describing the act of tidying a room to addressing corruption or mismanagement within an organization. It's appropriate in both informal and neutral contexts, but may need to be replaced by a more formal phrase in certain professional settings.