clew up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low/RareTechnical/Nautical
Quick answer
What does “clew up” mean?
To coil or gather a rope, especially a sailing line, into a neat bundle.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To coil or gather a rope, especially a sailing line, into a neat bundle.
To tidy or arrange something, particularly in the context of nautical operations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally archaic and specialised in both dialects. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical or maritime contexts.
Connotations
Evokes traditional sailing, seamanship, and a bygone era of sailing vessels.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use outside of specific historical or hobbyist contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “clew up” in a Sentence
[Subject: Sailor/Crew] + clew up + [Object: Rope/Line/Sheet]It's time to + clew up + [Object]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clew up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The bosun ordered the deckhands to clew up the halyards before the storm.
- We'll clew up these lines and make the deck shipshape.
American English
- After docking, the crew began to clew up all the sheets.
- Clew up that rope neatly before you secure it.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical or maritime studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in sailing and yachting instructions, especially for traditional rigging.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clew up”
- Using it as a synonym for general 'cleaning up'.
- Spelling it as 'clue up' (which is a different, informal phrase meaning to inform).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Clew up' is a nautical term for coiling ropes. 'Clue up' (often 'clued up') is an informal British phrase meaning to be well-informed about something.
It would sound very unusual and archaic. Use common synonyms like 'coil' or 'tidy up' instead.
A 'clew' is the lower aft corner of a square sail or the lower rear corner of a fore-and-aft sail, where the sheets (ropes) are attached. To 'clew up' originally meant to haul up the clew of a sail to the yard before furling it, which involved gathering the ropes.
It is primarily used by enthusiasts of traditional sailing (tall ships, historical reenactment). Most modern sailors would simply say 'coil the line' or 'flake the line'.
To coil or gather a rope, especially a sailing line, into a neat bundle.
Clew up is usually technical/nautical in register.
Clew up: in British English it is pronounced /kluː ʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /kluː ʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Clew up and stow away (meaning to finish a task completely).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a ball of CLUE string. To 'clew up' is to wind your CLUE (clew) into a neat ball.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIDINESS IS ORDERED CIRCULARITY (coiling a line into neat circles represents control and preparedness).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the phrase 'clew up'?