clean up one's act (informal)

To regulate one's activities, put one's affairs in good or proper order

get in on or get into the act (informal)

To start participating in something apparently profitable already taking place in order to share in the benefits

get one's act together (informal)

To get oneself organized

hard act to follow (informal)

An outstanding person, or something outstanding another person has done, regarded as difficult to equal

put on an act

1. To make a pretence
2. To show off

clean /klēn/

1. Free from dirt, stain, or anything that contaminates
2. Pure, fresh
3. Guiltless
4. Honest, uncorrupted
5. Neat in execution, unerring
6. Clear-cut, sharply defined
7. Even
8. Having nothing of an incriminating nature, such as a weapon, illegal drugs, etc on one's person (slang)
9. (of a driving licence) without any endorsements for motoring offences
10. (of an athlete) clear of drugs when tested
11. (of humour) not offensive
12. (of a fight) fair
13. Complete
14. Without a catch (angling)
15. Free of radioactive fallout
16. Of a design that causes little turbulent wake (aerodynamics)
17. (of technology, energy, etc) designed not to harm the environment

1. Quite, entirely
2. Smoothly
3. Without mishap

To make clean, or free from dirt, corruption, contamination, etc

1. An act of cleaning
2. A lift of the weight to the shoulders, where it is held with arms bent (weightlifting; clean and jerk such a lift followed immediately by a jerk (qv))

cleanˈer noun

A person or thing that cleans

cleanˈing noun and adjective

(the act of) making clean

cleanliness /klenˈli-nis or -nes/ noun

Habitual cleanness or purity

cleanly /klenˈli/ adjective

1. Clean in habits and person
2. Pure
3. Neat

In a clean manner

cleanness /klēnˈnis or -nes/ noun

clean-cutˈ adjective

1. Neat, well-shaped or well-formed
2. Uncluttered, without blemish or unnecessary ornament
3. With a neat, respectable appearance

cleaning lady or cleaning woman noun

A woman employed to clean a house, office, etc

clean-limbedˈ adjective

1. With shapely limbs
2. Trim

clean-livˈing adjective

1. Morally upright
2. Respectable

cleanˈ-out noun

1. A thorough cleaning
2. A swindle

clean room noun

1. (in the manufacture of computer and precision components) an area in a factory, etc where rigorous standards of cleanliness are maintained
2. A special facility for handling material, destined for space activities, in a sterile and dust-free environment

clean-shavˈen adjective

With all facial hair shaved off

clean sheet noun

1. A record with no blemishes
2. A situation in which no goals are conceded (sport)

cleanˈskin noun

1. An unbranded animal (Aust; also clearˈskin)
2. A person with a clean police record (informal)

cleanˈ-timˈbered adjective (Shakespeare)

Well-proportioned

cleanˈ-up noun

1. An act of thorough cleaning
2. The stamping out of an evil or illegal activity (see also clean up below)

a clean slate

A fresh start

a clean sweep

1. A complete change
2. The winning or gaining of all the prizes, votes, etc (usu with of)

clean as a whistle

1. Very clean or cleanly
2. Completely emptied

clean bowled (cricket)

Dismissed by a ball which hits the stumps without hitting the bat or pad

clean out

1. To clean the inside of
2. To take away all someone's money from (someone) (informal)

clean up

1. To make clean
2. To free from vice, corruption, etc
3. To make (large profits) (cleanˈ-up noun and adjective)

clean up one's act (informal)

To reform one's behaviour or bad practices

come clean (slang)

To confess or divulge everything

have clean hands

To have no connection with a crime or immoral act

make a clean break

To sever a relationship, etc completely

show a clean pair of heels

To run away

take (someone) to the cleaners (slang)

1. To take all, or a great deal of, a person's money, etc
2. To beat or criticize (someone) severely