Phrase guide

clean up one's act

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To reform; to improve one's habits.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Someday I'm going to clean up my act and start researching more carefully.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 改善自己的習慣 /改善自己的习惯 (gǎishàn zìjǐ de xíguàn) — reform
  • Chinese Mandarin: 改邪歸正 /改邪归正 (gǎixiéguīzhèng) — reform
  • Finnish: parantaa tapansa — reform
  • French: se ranger des voitures — reform
  • French: s'acheter une conduite — reform
  • German: zusammenreißen — reform
  • German: seine Gewohnheiten verändern — reform
  • Italian: darsi una regolata — reform
  • Italian: mettersi in riga — reform
  • Polish: zbierać się do kupy — reform
  • Polish: pozbierać się do kupy — reform
  • Russian: исправля́ться (ispravljátʹsja) — reform
  • Russian: испра́виться (isprávitʹsja) — reform