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tidy up

A2 neutral separable both
In simple words

To put everything in the right place so a room or area looks neat and organized.

Literal meaning: To make something tidy by putting it up/in its right place — transparent.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To make a room, space, or area neat and organized by putting things away or in their correct place.

"Can you tidy up your bedroom before dinner, please?"

"I throw out everything I don't need and tidy up the rest."

— Paraphrase of core principle in Marie Kondo, 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up', 2011
Grammar: separable
2 B1 idiomatic neutral

To improve or finalize something (a document, plan, or situation) by dealing with small remaining problems.

"I just need to tidy up a few loose ends in the report before I send it."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Extremely common in British and Australian English everyday speech. Less common in American English, where 'clean up' is often preferred. Used for physical spaces (rooms, desks) and figuratively for work, documents, or situations that need to be made neater or more orderly.

Commonly used with

room house desk garden files mess

Forms

Base
tidy up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
tidies up
he/she/it
Past simple
tidied up
yesterday
Past participle
tidied up
have + pp
-ing form
tidying up
continuous

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Synonyms

neaten up straighten up clean up organize put in order sort out

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