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Old 21-Jan-2007, 15:00
XYZ XYZ is offline
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Default tidy up or clear up

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.
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Old 21-Jan-2007, 16:14
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Default Re: tidy up or clear up

Quote:
Originally Posted by XYZ View Post
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

Last edited by Teia; 21-Jan-2007 at 16:22.
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Old 21-Jan-2007, 19:26
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Default Re: tidy up or clear up

Quote:
Originally Posted by XYZ View Post
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.
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Old 21-Jan-2007, 21:33
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Default Re: tidy up or clear up

Quote:
Originally Posted by riverkid View Post
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
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Old 21-Jan-2007, 21:44
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Default Re: tidy up or clear up


tidy the room up

clear the matter up
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Old 21-Jan-2007, 22:25
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Default Re: tidy up or clear up

Quote:
Originally Posted by teia_petrescu View Post
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.
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Old 22-Jan-2007, 08:44
XYZ XYZ is offline
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Default Re: tidy up or clear up

Quote:
Originally Posted by riverkid View Post
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.
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Old 22-Jan-2007, 16:04
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Default Re: tidy up or clear up

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.
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Old 22-Jan-2007, 18:45
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Default Re: tidy up or clear up

Quote:
Originally Posted by riverkid View Post
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
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