Differences between clean up and pick up
Clean up usually means to make something clean and tidy, whereas pick up generally means to lift something or to collect something from a place.
Meanings and Definitions: clean up vs pick up
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
Clean up
- 1Tidy and clean.
CLEAN this bedroom UP; it's a disgrace.
- 2Profit, sometimes suddenly.
At the horse races yesterday we really CLEANED UP.
Pick up
- 1Improve.
Sales PICKED UP a bit during the Christmas period.
- 2Learn quickly.
She PICKED UP Spanish in six months.
- 3Collect.
While you're in town, can you PICK UP my trousers from the Dry Cleaner?
- 4Receive ( a broadcast ).
When we rent a holiday cottage in Cornwall, we can't PICK UP Channel 5.
- 5Collect ( a person ). This differs from the' collect a thing' meaning - as that means' collect and bring back' whereas this means either ( i )' collect and drop off on your way' or ( ii )' collect and bring to the same destination'..
i ) Can you PICK me UP and take me to The George when you go to the party? ii ) Can you PICK UP some friends of mine on your way to the party? They're going too.
Usage Examples: clean up, pick up in Sentences
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
clean up
Example
Please clean up your room before your friends come over.
Example
She cleans up the kitchen after dinner every night.
pick up
Example
I need to pick up my dry cleaning today.
Example
She picks up her kids from school every day.
Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Clean up
tidy up
To make a space or an object neat and organized.
Example
She always tidies up her room before going to bed.
spruce up
To improve the appearance of something by cleaning or decorating it.
Example
They decided to spruce up the living room by adding some new furniture and paintings.
Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Pick up
To gather things or people from different places and bring them together.
Example
She needs to collect her luggage from the airport before heading home.
To go and get something from a particular place.
Example
He asked his assistant to fetch his laptop from the car.
To bring back something that was lost or left behind.
Example
She went back to the office to retrieve her phone that she forgot on the desk.
Explore more Phrasal Verbs
Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles
Phrasal Verbs with “clean”
Phrasal Verbs with “pick”
Differences in clean up vs pick up: Usage, Formality, and Tone
Frequency in Daily Use: clean up or pick up?
In daily conversation, people use pick up more often than clean up. This is because pick up is used for more daily tasks and routines such as picking up groceries or picking up kids from school. Clean up is not used as much. It's mainly used when we're talking about cleaning a space or an object. So, while both phrases are used, pick up is more common in everyday conversation.
Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of clean up and pick up
Clean up and pick up are informal phrases often used in casual conversations. They are suitable for everyday interactions with friends and family. In more formal settings like business or academic contexts, using alternative expressions can convey a more polished tone.
Tone and Implication: The Nuances of clean up and pick up
The tone of clean up and pick up can differ based on context. Clean up often carries a responsible or dutiful tone when related to cleaning a space or an object, while pick up typically has a practical and casual tone, especially when referring to collecting things or people.
