clean up

phrasal verb

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	clean up
he/she/it	cleans up
present participle	cleaning up
past tense	cleaned up
past participle	cleaned up

1
intransitive/transitive to make a place completely clean and tidy
We really ought to make a start on getting this place cleaned up.
I’m going to clean up in here this afternoon.
Synonyms and related words
To make things cleaner or tidier
clean up
clear out
clean
1. 1a
  transitive to remove objects from a place in order to make it completely clean and tidy
  Joe can clean up the mess.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make things cleaner or tidier
  clean up
  clear out
  clean
2
transitive to wash someone who is dirty
Come into the bathroom and I’ll get you cleaned up.
I cleaned myself up and got ready for dinner.
Synonyms and related words
Washing or cleaning yourself or someone else
ablutions
bath
bath
3
transitive to remove pollution from a place or an industrial process
We need a systematic plan for identifying and cleaning up waste sites.
Synonyms and related words
Environmental issues
anthropogenic
biodegradable
biohazard
4
transitive to stop bad, unfair, or criminal behaviour in a place or activity
Is there the political will to clean up the banking system?
a campaign to clean up the city’s streets
Synonyms and related words
Crime detection and prevention
agent provocateur
all-points bulletin
APB
5
intransitive informalto make a lot of money
He really cleaned up on the stock market.
Synonyms and related words
To earn a lot of money or earn money easily
generate
rake in
clean up
6
clean up your actinformalto start behaving in a more suitable and sensible way
Synonyms and related words
To change your opinion, attitudes or behaviour
change your mind
see reason/sense
adapt