Clean: Phrasal Verb Flashcards
(9 cards)
Clean up
Meaning: To tidy or make something clean and orderly. To make a place clean and tidy.
Explanation: Often used when referring to cleaning a room, mess, or area. Used when removing mess, dirt, or clutter from a space.
Examples:
Let’s clean up the kitchen before guests arrive.
The kids cleaned up their toys after playing.
I always clean up my desk before starting work.
Can you clean up the mess in the living room?
We cleaned up the garden for the spring festival.
Clean out
Meaning:
a) To empty and clean the inside of something.
b) (Informal) To use up or take everything from someone, especially money. (To steal everything from a place (informal/slang).
Explanation:
a) Often used for spaces like drawers, closets, or garages.
b) Used to describe being robbed or losing money.
Examples (a):
I need to clean out the fridge—it smells weird.
She cleaned out her closet and donated old clothes.
We cleaned out the car before the road trip.
He cleaned out the attic and found some old photos.
I cleaned out my makeup bag—there was so much junk!
Examples (b):
The robbers cleaned out the entire jewelry store.
That shopping spree really cleaned me out.
He was cleaned out by a scam artist.
The poker game cleaned him out in 30 minutes.
The sudden hospital bill cleaned out their savings.
The burglars cleaned out the entire safe.
Clean off
Meaning: To remove dirt or unwanted material from a surface.
Explanation: Often used when cleaning tables, shoes, or countertops.
Examples:
Please clean off the table before dinner.
I cleaned off the mud from my boots.
She cleaned off the window with a cloth.
Can you clean off your phone screen?
He cleaned off the paint from his hands.
Clean down
Meaning: To wipe down large surfaces, especially in kitchens or industrial settings.
Explanation: Used for deep, thorough surface cleaning.
Examples:
The staff cleaned down the counters after closing.
You need to clean down the grill after using it.
I cleaned down the walls after the paint job.
He cleaned down all the gym equipment.
They cleaned down the food prep area every night.
Clean over
Meaning: To do a quick or light cleaning.📘 Explanation: Not deep cleaning, just a surface-level tidy-up.
🗣️ Examples:
I quickly cleaned over the table before lunch.
She cleaned over the bathroom this morning.
Let’s just clean over the living room—no time for a deep clean.
I cleaned over the shelves with a cloth.
He cleaned over the mirror to remove fingerprints.
Clean up after
Meaning: To tidy or clean a mess made by someone else.📘 Explanation: Often used with children or pets.
🗣️ Examples:
I’m tired of cleaning up after my little brother.
Who cleaned up after the dog?
She always cleans up after her baby.
We cleaned up after the guests left.
Don’t expect me to clean up after you every time!
Clean out of
Meaning: To be completely deprived of something (usually money or supplies).📘 Explanation: Often informal, used when you’ve lost all of something.
🗣️ Examples:
I was cleaned out of cash after the weekend.
The shop was cleaned out of all the chocolate bars.
That investment cleaned me out of everything.
He got cleaned out at the casino.
The kids cleaned me out of snacks again!
Clean up nicely (idiomatic)
Meaning: To look attractive or neat after dressing up or grooming.📘 Explanation: Used as a compliment.
🗣️ Examples:
You clean up nicely in that suit!
Wow, she really cleans up nicely.
I didn’t expect him to clean up so nicely.
We all clean up nicely for weddings.
Even after a long day, she cleaned up nicely for dinner.
Clean house (idiomatic)
Meaning:
a) To thoroughly clean a home.
b) To remove or fire people (like in an organization or team).
🗣️ Examples (a):
We cleaned house before Diwali.
I clean house every Sunday.
Let’s clean house before Mom comes over.
The maid cleaned house in just two hours.
We cleaned house and rearranged the furniture.
🗣️ Examples (b):
The company cleaned house after the scandal.
The coach cleaned house and brought in a new team.
They cleaned house at the office—many employees were fired.
After the audit, they had to clean house.
She cleaned house in her department to start fresh.
