ENGLISH
REFERENCE

clear up

phr. v..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

phr. v.. to solve a problem or explain a misunderstanding; it can also mean that the weather becomes sunny or a skin problem goes away.

phr. v.. to resolve a confusion or mystery; intransitively, to describe the dissipation of clouds or the healing of a medical condition like a rash.


SIMPLE

I hope the weather clears up before our picnic.

CONTEXTUAL

We need to have a meeting to clear up any confusion about the new project rules.

COMPLEX

The doctor prescribed an ointment that should clear up the infection within a few days, provided the patient follows the application schedule.

Particles
up
Separability
optional
Pattern
clear + up (+ object)
Usage

when used for problems or misunderstandings, it usually takes a direct object.

Teaching tip

this is a polysemous phrasal verb; use a 'weather vs. problem' matching activity to help students distinguish between the intransitive and transitive uses.

Pitfall

The rain cleared up the sky.The sky cleared up.when talking about weather, 'clear up' is usually intransitive and the sky or weather is the subject, not the object.

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