tidy up or clear up

[XYZ]

Hello
Could you please explain to me the difference between the following two phrasal verbs:
tidy up (sth) or tidy (sth) up and clear up (sth) or clear (sth) up? Before my teacher (English native speaker) told me there are some differences between them but now I can’t figure out that.
Thank you.

[Teia]

Originally Posted by XYZ

Hello
Could you please explain to me the difference between the following two phrasal verbs:
tidy up (sth) or tidy (sth) up and clear up (sth) or clear (sth) up? Before my teacher (English native speaker) told me there are some differences between them but now I can’t figure out that.
Thank you.

Hi

tidy up =clean
clear up = make smth. clear,clarify,explain, elucidate
e.g
Your room is a mess. You have to tidy it up.
She had an argument with her boss regarding the monthly sales figures. She had to clear it up.
The sky cleared up after that terrible storm.
Follow the link for further information : clear up - definition of clear up by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
Regards

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by XYZ

Hello
Could you please explain to me the difference between the following two phrasal verbs:
tidy up (sth) or tidy (sth) up and clear up (sth) or clear (sth) up? Before my teacher (English native speaker) told me there are some differences between them but now I can’t figure out that.
Thank you.

Further to Teia's excellent explanation.

There is a phrasal verb using 'clear' that has a similar meaning to 'tidy up'. It's 'clear away'.

If you clear away the dishes I'll tidy up the living room.

Though this meaning is not as specific as 'do the dishes', in a situation like this, it could be meant to have the same net effect.

[Teia]

Originally Posted by riverkid

Further to Teia's excellent explanation.
There is a phrasal verb using 'clear' that has a similar meaning to 'tidy up'. It's 'clear away'.
If you clear away the dishes I'll tidy up the living room.
Though this meaning is not as specific as 'do the dishes', in a situation like this, it could be meant to have the same net effect.

Hi Riverkid

Thank you for appreciating my answer although I know that there are many more other uses of the words "tidy" and "clear" as well.

Regards

[Volcano1985]

tidy the room up

clear the matter up

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by teia_petrescu

Hi Riverkid
Thank you for appreciating my answer although I know that there are many more other uses of the words "tidy" and "clear" as well.
Regards

I knew that you knew that, Teia. My response was to, potentially, clear up the situation for XYZ.

Cheers, Teia.

[XYZ]

Originally Posted by riverkid

I knew that you knew that, Teia. My response was to, potentially, clear up the situation for XYZ.

Cheers, Teia.

Thank you very much for your quick replies. Please take a look at the extracts from an online dictionary:
tidy up (sth) or tidy (sth) up mainly British & Australian

to make a room or a group of things tidy by putting things in the correct place
I'd better tidy up before our guests come.
You can watch television when you've tidied up your room.


clear up (sth) or clear (sth) up

to make a place tidy and clean, especially by putting things where they usually belong
We'll have to clear up before my parents come home.
Can you clear up that mess in the kitchen before you go out?

What’s the difference between “to make a room or a group of things tidy by putting things in the correct place” and “to make a place tidy and clean, especially by putting things where they usually belong”?
Thank you.

[Philly]

The definition of 'clear up' that you've quoted would be an unusual usage, in my opinion. As defined, it's synonymous with 'tidy up'. Personally, I would not use 'clear up' that way. I'd probably say 'clean up' instead.

[Teia]

Originally Posted by riverkid

I knew that you knew that, Teia. My response was to, potentially, clear up the situation for XYZ.
Cheers, Teia.

Thank you very much Riverkid.

Best wishes