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  1. #1
    dilodi83 is offline Senior Member
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    Default to clean up - to wipe down - to tidy up - to clear up

    1) I've wiped down all the surfaces in the kitchen.
    2) I've cleaned up all the surfaces in the kitchen.

    3) I've tidied my room up.
    4) I've cleared my room up.

    Do the first two sentences mean the same? Can those two verbs be used interchangeably?

    What about the second two sentences? Do they mean the same? Can I use these two verbs for the same contexts without changing the meaning of the sentence?

  2. #2
    bhaisahab's Avatar
    bhaisahab is online now Moderator
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    Default Re: to clean up - to wipe down - to tidy up - to clear up

    Quote Originally Posted by dilodi83 View Post
    1) I've wiped down all the surfaces in the kitchen.
    2) I've cleaned up all the surfaces in the kitchen.

    3) I've tidied my room up.
    4) I've cleared my room up.

    Do the first two sentences mean the same? Can those two verbs be used interchangeably?

    What about the second two sentences? Do they mean the same? Can I use these two verbs for the same contexts without changing the meaning of the sentence?
    #1 is idiomatic, #2 would be better without "up".
    " I've tidied up my room" and "I've cleared up my room" would be better.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: to clean up - to wipe down - to tidy up - to clear up

    I'm not the best housekeeper, but the "wiping down" happens last, after I've "cleaned up" and everything else is "cleared off" and things are "put away."

    Once the counters are clear of dishes, food, and appliances, you can wipe them down to disinfect. I don't see the first two as interhchangeable at all.
    Last edited by Barb_D; 06-Oct-2011 at 19:10.
    I'm not a teacher, but I write for a living. Please don't ask me about 2nd conditionals, but I'm a safe bet for what reads well in (American) English.

  4. #4
    bhaisahab's Avatar
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    Default Re: to clean up - to wipe down - to tidy up - to clear up

    Quote Originally Posted by Barb_D View Post
    I'm not the best housekeeper, but the "wiping down" happens last, after I've "cleaned up" and everything else is "cleared off" and things are "put away."

    Once the counters are clear of dishes, food, and appliances, you can wipe them down to disinfect. I don't see the first two as interhchangeable at all.
    I would see cleaning the surfaces as being more thorough than wiping them down.

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