tidy up

[/ˈtaɪdi ʌp/]
phrasal verb
arrumar, organizar, limpar
1. to make a place neat and organized by putting things in order and removing clutter
I need to tidy up my bedroom before my parents arrive.
Preciso arrumar meu quarto antes que meus pais cheguem.
2. to clean and organize a room or space
She tidied up the living room after the party.
Ela organizou a sala de estar depois da festa.
3. to put away or organize objects that are scattered or disorganized
Let me tidy up these papers on my desk.
Deixa eu arrumar esses papéis na minha mesa.
In both American and Brazilian cultures, 'tidy up' is a common household expression used by parents to ask children to organize their rooms. In Brazilian Portuguese, 'arrumar' is the most frequently used equivalent and is integral to domestic routines. The expression reflects cultural values around cleanliness and organization in both English-speaking and Portuguese-speaking households.
NYC Slang
straighten up, clean house
Synonyms / Sinônimos
clean uporganizestraighten upput in orderneaten
Antonyms / Antônimos
mess upclutterdisorganizescatter

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
arrumar, organizar
Most common usage in everyday Brazilian Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro
arrumar, limpar
Common in Rio dialect
São Paulo
organizar, arrumar
Formal and informal contexts both use these terms
Portugal
arrumar, organizar, limpar
Similar usage to Brazilian Portuguese; 'arrumar a casa' is very common

Related Words

tidyneatorganizearrangecleaninghousework

Related Idioms & Phrases

tidy up one's act
put one's house in order
clean house
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