clean up

clean up

1. To clean; to make a person or space cleaner or neater in appearance; to tidy up. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "clean" and "up." You really need to clean up your room. It's like a pigsty in there! Get me a sponge so I can clean this sticky table up. I'll clean up the baby while you take the stroller out to the car.
2. To obtain a lot of earnings, winnings, or desired goods (most often money) from a particular venture or action. I'm buying you dinner because I really cleaned up at the poker game last night! If our little invention gets mass-produced, we'll clean up! I cleaned up at the thrift store—look at all this neat stuff I got for five bucks!
3. To stop the practice of illegal or seedy behavior or activities in a particular place. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "clean" and "up." This part of town used to be dominated by the drug trade until the police were able to clean it up.
4. To easily attain victory (typically over an opponent). Half the players on that team were sidelined with injuries, so we cleaned up.
5. To refine something (such as a piece of writing) by removing errors, inconsistences, offensive elements, etc. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "clean" and "up." I paid an editor to clean up my manuscript, and after that I got multiple offers! No radio station will play this song as-is—you need to clean it up a bit and remove the foul language.
6. To address, rectify, or complete something. You go ahead up to the room—I'll clean up the paperwork at the front desk.
See also: clean, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

clean someone or something up

to get someone or something clean. Please go into the bathroom and clean yourself up. I'll clean up the kids before we leave for dinner. Can you clean this place up a little?
See also: clean, up

clean up (on something)

Fig. to make a lot of money on something. The promoters cleaned up on the product. If we get this invention to market soon, we can clean up.
See also: clean, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

clean up

1. 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]
2. Also, wash up. Wash or tidy oneself, as in Do I have time to clean up before dinner?
3. Settle or dispose of, as in He cleaned up all the bills that had arrived during his vacation.
4. 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]
5. Succeed, especially financially, as in We had fantastic luck at the races and really cleaned up. [Slang; first half of 1800s]
6. 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]
See also: clean, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

clean up

v.
1. To make someone or something clean, neat, or presentable: My brother stayed late and helped me clean up the apartment after the party. After I got home from work, I cleaned myself up for dinner.
2. To get rid of dirt, rubbish, or impurities: Volunteers helped clean up the oil spill. I cleaned the broken glass up before anyone could step on it.
3. To rid something or some place of crime or immoral behavior: The government promised to clean up the corrupt judicial system. The mayor cleaned the neighborhood up and made it safe for residents.
4. Slang To make a large amount of money, often in a short period of time: Investors cleaned up when the company struck oil.
See also: clean, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

clean up

verb
See clean up on something
See also: clean, up
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • clean out
  • clean someone out
  • swab out
  • clean down
  • clean off
  • clean-up operation
  • operation
  • boil out
  • you could eat off the floor(s)
  • clean out of
References in periodicals archive
And in May, pupils from John Gulson School in George Street, Foleshill, stopped lessons to clean up their school grounds and part of the streets outside.
KEEP COVENTRY CLEAN CAMPAIGN: Clean-up schemes prove a sweeping success
A Team Up to Clean Up Facebook page has also been launched and is proving to be a popular site for community groups and individuals seeking advice on community clean-ups.
Paisley's proud of cleaner streets
More offenders should not only be fined but punished by being forced to clean up the communities they have blighted.
No excuse for litter; COMMENT
As soon as we were elected and in response to what communities were telling us, we dedicated more money to clean up our streets and followed this up in our new budget with a further PS2.5million over the next five years to build on the great progress so far.
Well done spring cleaners
Two events have been arranged in the Stanley Green Corridor to provide an opportunity for the community to join in activities to help clean up their environment.
Cleaning up the corridor
The events are being hosted as part of Renfrewshire Council's Team Up to Clean Up campaign and will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday across the district.
MSP joins spring clean
The MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, pounded the pavements in the residential area in Johnstone as part of Renfrewshire Council's Team Up to Clean Up campaign.
Community clean up is a team effort; MP Mhairi not scared to get her hands dirty CHIPPING IN
Alongside this, Renfrewshire'sTeam Up to Clean Up campaign has seen more than 50 community clean-ups taking place right across the region.
It's tidy-up time; Taking the lead BY RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL LEADER IAIN NICOLSON
Most clean ups will be rearranged for the next few weeks, so there is still time to get involved.
Thanks to volunteers who braved 'beast'
To celebrate World Environment Day 2017, LG employees will conduct numerous environmental activations including e-waste clean ups and awareness campaigns in the Gulf region and across Egypt.
World Environment Day 2017 Connects LG Employees With a Worthy Cause
David Lipton, deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, has asked for further clean ups and strengthening of the financial systems in the banking sector in order to sustain a recent rally in the market.
-Top IMF official urges further clean-up in banking sector to sustain rally
The Forum works in partnership with a variety of different organisations and as well as having significant input into the regeneration of the estate, members also organise community clean ups and fundraising activities for the Camp Hill Young People's Holiday Scheme, as well as making sure residents get the most from council services.
More community input
Some of the other activities during the week will include sub-aqua clean ups and walk and talks for members of the public.
Clean coast campaign is launched; BEACHES
Activities may include education, wildlife and natural resource preservation or helping with school construction, beach clean ups, and wildlife habitat restoration.
New cruiseship tour
BLEACH WIPE is available in an 8- by 10-inch and 14- by 14-inch sizes for larger clean ups in the OR.
Surface disinfectant wipes