Cleaning or Separating: English Vocabulary List

to make oneself neat or clean

"She cleans up herself."

"Please clean up the mess you made in the kitchen before your father gets home from work."

to tidy, remove, or organize things following a particular activity or event

"Clean up after your dog."

"The pet owner is responsible to clean up after his dog when it defecates in the public park."

to make a place tidy by putting things back where they belong, often following a particular activity or event

"Clear up after the party ends."

"The janitor was responsible to clear up after the school cafeteria lunch service each day."

to distribute something into separate parts, shares, or portions

"Divide up the money among yourselves."

"The children decided to divide up the candy equally so that no one would feel cheated or left out."

to collect and remove dirt or trash, typically from the floor or a surface using a broom

"Sweep up the broken glass carefully."

"The janitor swept up the broken glass from the floor after the vase fell off the table and shattered."

to make a place neat and orderly by putting things away, cleaning, or organizing

"Please tidy up."

"Before the guests arrive, we need to tidy up the living room and make sure everything is in its proper place."

to clean a surface by using a cloth or mop to remove liquid or any sort of substance spills

"Wipe up the mess on counter."

"Please wipe up the milk you spilled on the counter before it dries and becomes sticky and hard to clean."

to end a relationship, typically a romantic or sexual one

"The couple decided to break up."

"After dating for five years, they decided to break up because their life goals were no longer aligned."

to explain or resolve confusion, making something easier to understand or less ambiguous

"Let me clear it up."

"The detective's detailed explanation helped to clear up the confusing sequence of events that led to the crime."

to remove or absorb liquid from the ground floor, often using a sponge, cloth, or absorbent material

"Mop up the spilled milk quickly."

"The waiter used a towel to mop up the spilled wine from the floor before anyone could slip and fall."

to separate something into smaller components

"Please split up the cake."

"The teacher asked the students to split up the complex problem into smaller, more manageable parts."

to rip something into small pieces

"He will tear up paper."

"She was so angry that she began to tear up the letter into tiny, unreadable pieces and threw them away."

to clean one's hands, face, or body, typically using water and soap

"Wash up before eating."

"It's important for everyone to wash up thoroughly after playing outside to prevent the spread of germs."