clear up
B1Informal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
To make something tidy, clean, or organized; to resolve a problem or misunderstanding.
Also refers to the weather improving after rain, to cure an illness/infection, and to explain something so it becomes understood.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Phrasal verb with separable particle (e.g., 'clear up the mess' or 'clear the mess up'). Can be used both transitively and intransitively (e.g., 'The weather cleared up'). The meaning shifts significantly based on the object (problem, room, weather, illness).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English more commonly uses 'clear up' to mean 'tidy/clean' (e.g., 'clear up your toys'). American English slightly prefers 'clean up' for this sense, though 'clear up' is still used. In both, 'clear up' is standard for resolving mysteries/misunderstandings and weather improving.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. No significant difference in connotation.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English for domestic tidying contexts. Equal frequency for abstract/problem-solving meanings.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] clear up[NP] clear up [NP][NP] clear [NP] upVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Clear up a mystery”
- “Clear the air (related idiom)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for resolving disputes, clarifying project details, or tidying financial records.
Academic
Used to clarify a theoretical point, resolve an argument in a paper, or explain data.
Everyday
Most common for tidying a room, explaining a misunderstanding, or noting the weather has improved.
Technical
In medicine: 'The infection cleared up.' In meteorology: 'Skies will clear up by afternoon.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Could you clear up the breakfast things before you leave?
- The police are trying to clear up the mystery.
- My rash has finally cleared up.
American English
- We need to clear up this misunderstanding first.
- The forecast says it'll clear up by noon.
- He cleared the documents up from his desk.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please clear up your toys.
- The sky is clearing up.
- I need to clear up the kitchen after dinner.
- Could you clear up what you meant earlier?
- My cold cleared up quickly.
- The committee met to clear up the remaining issues with the proposal.
- New evidence helped clear up the long-standing mystery.
- The ambassador's statement did little to clear up the diplomatic ambiguity surrounding the incident.
- Once we clear up the methodological inconsistencies, the data will be publishable.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a cloudy sky (a problem). The sun comes out and CLEARS the clouds UP, making everything bright and understood.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROBLEMS ARE CLOUDS/BLOCKS; SOLVING IS CLEARING/REMOVING.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'чистить вверх'. For 'tidy', use 'убирать(ся)'. For 'resolve', use 'прояснять', 'разрешать'. For weather, 'проясняться'.
Common Mistakes
- *I cleared up him about the plan. (Correct: I cleared it up with him / I cleared up the matter with him.)
- *Can you clear up? (Ambiguous without object.)
- Confusing 'clear up' (solve/tidy) with 'clean up' (often just clean).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'clear up' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral. Acceptable in informal speech and most writing, but for very formal documents, synonyms like 'resolve' or 'elucidate' might be preferred for abstract meanings.
Yes, intransitively: 'The weather cleared up.' 'My infection cleared up.' For the 'tidy/solve' meaning, an object is usually needed or implied by context.
Overlap exists, but 'clean up' emphasizes washing/removing dirt. 'Clear up' emphasizes removing clutter or disorder and is used for abstract problems. You 'clean up' a muddy floor, but 'clear up' a messy desk.
Look at the object/subject. Object: mess/room -> tidy. Object: mystery/confusion -> solve. Subject: weather/sky -> improve. Subject: rash/infection -> heal.
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