What Does “Clear sth out” Mean?
“Clear sth out” means to remove everything from a place, often to clean or make space. It usually involves emptying or cleaning a room, cupboard, or area completely.
Introduction
The phrase “clear sth out” is a common phrasal verb in English. It is used when someone wants to empty or clean a space by removing all items inside it. This could be a messy drawer, a cluttered garage, or even a storage room. Understanding the clear sth out meaning helps learners use it naturally in daily conversation or writing. You might say, “I need to clear the attic out before we can use it as a guest room.” This expression is practical and often used when organizing, cleaning, or preparing a space for a new purpose.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: clear sth out → clear something out
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to remove everything from a place
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Clear sth out” is a separable phrasal verb. You can put the object (something) between “clear” and “out” or after the whole phrase.
- Clear something out
- Clear out something
Examples:
- We need to clear the garage out this weekend.
- We need to clear out the garage this weekend.
How to Use “Clear sth out”?
You use “clear sth out” when you talk about removing all items from a place. It often suggests cleaning or organizing. It can be used in different contexts, such as clearing out a room, a closet, or even a computer folder. The phrase emphasizes making space by removing everything.
Examples
- I decided to clear my desk out before starting the new project.
- They cleared the old warehouse out to build a new store.
- Could you help me clear the fridge out? It smells bad.
- We cleared the attic out last weekend and found some old photos.
- Clear sth out in a sentence: She cleared her wardrobe out to donate clothes to charity.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I cleared out my room the books.
Correct: I cleared the books out of my room. - Incorrect: Clear out the kitchen. (without object when meaning empty)
Correct: Clear the kitchen out before the guests arrive.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include:
- Clean out: Often means cleaning thoroughly, sometimes with emphasis on dirt or mess.
- Clear up: Usually means to tidy or fix a mess, but not necessarily removing everything.
- Throw sth away: Means to discard items permanently, while “clear sth out” can mean moving items somewhere else.
Difference: “Clear sth out” focuses on emptying a space completely, while “clean out” focuses on cleaning and “throw away” on discarding.
Common Collocations
- Clear the attic out
- Clear the garage out
- Clear the cupboard out
- Clear the desk out
- Clear the fridge out
- Clear the room out
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of clear sth out:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: The basement is so messy. We should clear it out this weekend.
Ben: Good idea. I want to make space for my bike.
Anna: Let’s clear the shelves out first, then decide what to keep.
Ben: Sounds like a plan!
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “clear sth out”:
- We need to __________ the garage __________ before parking the car inside.
- She __________ her closet __________ and donated many clothes.
- Can you help me __________ the fridge __________? It smells strange.
FAQs
- Q: Is “clear sth out” formal or informal?
A: It is informal and common in everyday English. - Q: Can I use “clear sth out” for digital files?
A: Yes, it can mean deleting or removing files to free up space. - Q: What is the difference between “clear out” and “clean out”?
A: “Clear out” means removing everything, “clean out” means cleaning and organizing. - Q: Can “clear sth out” be used without an object?
A: Usually it needs an object, but sometimes “clear out” alone means to leave or empty a place. - Q: Is “clear sth out” separable?
A: Yes, you can separate the verb and particle with the object.
