clean up1
informal
1Make a substantial gain or profit: Francis put three quid on a horse, figuring it was about time he cleaned up...
- Disinfectant companies have been cleaning up since the foot-and-mouth outbreak.
- He travels the circuit, pretending to be an ordinary joe, and then cleans up on bets and prizes because he has a great rock-and-roll voice.
- A competent Democrat could clean up with a message to restore government for the people rather than for special interests.
1.1Win all the prizes available in a sporting competition: the Germans cleaned up at Wimbledon...
- City Arms added to their division one championship win by cleaning up all the competition trophies on offer.
- In addition to their 3rd place trophies, this team cleaned up on the technical prizes winning three Near Pins and a Long Drive.
- He cleaned up in the rifle competition by winning five of the six rifle matches in the champion shot competition.
See parent entry: clean
clean-up2
/ˈklinʌp
/noun
1An act of cleaning a place: an environmental clean-up...
- In August, the Wilderness Hiking Association launched a clean-up campaign to clean the Fish River Canyon.
- Their efforts will go beyond delivering pep-talks and will extend to involving people in developing waste-reduction and recycling activities and encouraging community clean-ups and environmental improvements.
- You are encouraged to help identify flotsam sources, get involved in local beach clean-ups and campaign for responsible disposal of waste by marine industries.
1.1An act of putting an end to immorality or crime: a clean-up of the more open violence had begun...
- The clean-up rate for crimes stood at a mere 20.8%.
- Political considerations, apparently, have delayed a clean-up of the most serious twin crimes of any bureaucracy - inefficiency and corruption.
- The clean-up operation involved searching the buildings and targeting criminals operating from the buildings.
2 [usually as modifier] Baseball The fourth position in a team’s batting order, usually reserved for a strong batter whose hits are likely to enable any runner who is on base to score: L.A.’s clean-up hitter Clarence Maddern smacked a fastball over the left-field fence...
- During that time, the Yankees showed how much they miss their cleanup hitter.
- He is an excellent cleanup hitter who makes contact and delivers in the clutch.
- He's a dependable No 5 hitter who might develop into a cleanup hitter.