# rid up

CEFR C2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rid-up
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to tidy or clean a room by putting things in their proper places.

For teachers: to tidy or organize a space by clearing away clutter. This phrasal verb is transitive and functions as a regional variant of 'tidy up'.

## Examples

- I need to rid up the living room before they arrive.
- Before the holiday dinner began, the family worked together to rid up the dining area and set the table.
- The archival staff spent weeks ridding up the basement storage, meticulously categorizing decades of neglected documents and clearing the aisles.

## Usage notes

- this phrase is transitive and allows the object to come between the verb and the particle.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'get rid of'; 'rid up' is about tidying, while 'get rid of' is about throwing things away.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.