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tidy

adj. · v. · n. · interj.
US //ˈtaɪdi// UK //tˈaɪdi// tidy
  1. 1 neat and organized (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    having everything in the right place and looking neat.

    arranged in a neat, orderly, and systematic manner.

    Example

    She likes to keep her desk tidy so she can find her pens easily.

    Example

    The inspector noted that the laboratory was exceptionally tidy, with every chemical reagent correctly labelled and stored in its designated cabinet.
  2. 2 a large amount (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    used to describe a large or impressive amount of money.

    denoting a considerable or substantial amount, typically in the context of financial sums.

    Example

    He sold his old car for a tidy profit last week.

    Example

    After years of careful investment, she managed to accumulate a tidy sum that allowed her to retire several years earlier than planned.
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  1. 3 to clean up (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to make a place neat by putting things where they belong.

    to bring order to a space by arranging objects neatly; often used with the particle 'up'.

    Example

    I need to tidy my room before my friends arrive for the party.

    Example

    The staff worked quickly to tidy the conference hall between the morning keynote and the afternoon breakout sessions.

    Usage

    Often functions as a phrasal verb: 'tidy up'.
  2. 4 an organizer (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate British English

    a small container used to keep things like pens or tools organized.

    a receptacle or device designed to hold small items in an orderly fashion.

    Example

    I bought a desk tidy to keep all my paperclips and staples in one place.

    Example

    The workshop was equipped with various wall-mounted tidies, ensuring that specialized drill bits were always within the mechanic's reach.
  3. 5 great or fine (interj.)
    C1 Advanced Dialect British English Informal

    a way to say 'great' or 'good' in some parts of the UK.

    an exclamation of approval, agreement, or satisfaction.

    Example

    "I'll meet you at six then." "Tidy, see you then."

    Example

    Upon hearing that the local team had finally won the championship, he simply nodded and remarked, "Tidy."
Origin

From Middle English tidy, tydy, tidi (“timely, seasonal, opportune”), from tide (“time”) + -y. Cognate with Saterland Frisian tiedig (“timely, early”), Dutch tijdig (“timely”), German Low German tiedig (“timely”), German zeitig (“seasonal, timely”), Danish tidig (“timely”), Swedish tidig (“timely”).

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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