sweep up

US /swiːp ʌp/

UK /swiːp ʌp/

1.

to clean a floor or other surface using a broom or brush

:

•

Could you please sweep up the kitchen floor?

•

After the party, we had to sweep up all the confetti.

:

clean up clear away tidy up

2.

to gather or collect something, often quickly or in large quantities

:

•

The police quickly swept up the suspects.

•

The new product is expected to sweep up a large share of the market.

:

gather collect round up apprehend capture

:

sweep sweeping reverse sweep sweep aside a clean sweep on the up and up up