cleans things up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cleans things up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to making a situation clearer, more organized, or resolving issues. Example: "The new software update really cleans things up, making the interface much more user-friendly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Both watches share the same movement, which is capable of keeping time in 24 different time zones, but the Tangomat cleans things up with a city dial that's mostly kept out of view, save for the display window.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 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

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

The New York Times

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

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

But if South Africa's president can shed his controversial past and clean things up, it will be an astounding achievement.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cleans things up" when you want to convey the idea of resolving problems, improving organization, or clarifying a situation in a concise and idiomatic way. It's suitable for both literal and figurative contexts.

Common error

While "cleans things up" is versatile, avoid overusing it in formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise alternatives like "resolves issues" or "rectifies the situation" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cleans things up" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase. It signifies actions taken to improve a situation, resolve problems, or make something more organized or efficient. Ludwig AI confirms this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cleans things up" is a versatile idiomatic expression used to convey the idea of resolving problems, improving organization, or clarifying a situation. Ludwig AI indicates its frequent usage across various contexts, especially in News & Media. While grammatically correct and widely understood, it's best to consider the formality of the context and opt for more precise alternatives in strictly formal or academic writing. Its communicative purpose is to suggest actions taken to fix issues and improve clarity or efficiency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tidies up

Focuses on the act of making something neater or more organized, often in a physical sense.

straightens out

Implies resolving complexities or problems, making something easier to understand or manage.

sorts out

Suggests resolving a problem or untangling a complicated situation.

rectifies the situation

Implies correcting something that is wrong or bad.

resolves issues

Focuses specifically on addressing and solving problems or conflicts.

improves the situation

Highlights the act of making something better or more desirable.

clarifies matters

Emphasizes making something easier to understand by providing more information.

remedies the problem

Implies providing a solution to a specific issue or difficulty.

polishes up

Suggests refining something to make it more presentable or effective.

streamlines processes

Focuses on making a process more efficient and effective.

FAQs

What does "cleans things up" mean?

The phrase "cleans things up" means to resolve problems, improve a situation, or make something more organized and efficient. It can apply to both physical and abstract scenarios.

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

You can use "cleans things up" in sentences like, "The new manager really "straightens out" the department" or "The software update "tidies up" the user interface."

What are some alternatives to "cleans things up"?

Some alternatives to "cleans things up" include "resolves issues", "rectifies the situation", "improves the situation", or "clarifies matters", depending on the context.

Is "cleans things up" appropriate for formal writing?

While "cleans things up" is widely understood, it's generally more suitable for informal or neutral contexts. In formal writing, consider using more precise and professional alternatives like "resolves issues" or "remedies the problem".