Clear up / clean up
Which is correct?
1 I'm going to clear up / clean up / tidy up the kitchen.
2 You have to tidy up / clear up / clean up your clothes.
3 Let me clean up / clear up the broken glass.
THANKS.
Top answer
The differences are subtle and each gets used without a thought in casual speech. However, there are certainly differences and some are much better than others in particular circumstances. clear up - remove the mess clean up - use some sort of cleaning materials (detergent or suchlike) to do the job tidy up - leave everything but rearrange it so that it is no longer a nuisance Therefore I would favour 'clear up the kitchen', 'tidy up your clothes' and 'clear up the broken glass'.
- The differences are subtle and each gets used without a thought in casual speech.
- However, there are certainly differences and some are much better than others in particular circumstances.
- clear up - remove the mess clean up - use some sort of cleaning materials (detergent or suchlike) to do the job tidy up - leave everything but rearrange it so that it is no longer a nuisance Therefore I would favour 'clear up the kitchen', 'tidy up your clothes' and 'clear up the broken glass'.
- However, you could argue one or two alternatives.
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The differences are subtle and each gets used without a thought in casual speech. However, there are certainly differences and some are much better than others in particular circumstances.
clear up - remove the mess
clean up - use some sort of cleaning materials (detergent or suchlike) to do the job
tidy up - leave everything but rearrange it so that it is no longer a nuisa
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