| inf., news |
to behave in a more acceptable manner (merriam-webster.com); to improve one's behavior (After I got in yet another fight at school, the headmaster told me that I had to clean up my act or else I'd be expelled.  thefreedictionary.com); begin to behave in a better way, especially by giving up alcohol, drugs, or illegal activities (He planned to clean up his act, but in a last celebration bought some coke and heroin. • Now is the time to sift through those cluttered cupboards and clean up your act. • Now comes the time to get real and clean up my act. lexico.com); to start behaving sensibly and responsibly (Some companies could face heavy fines if they fail to clean up their act. • Naming and shaming remains an option should the company not clean up its act. • Citibank insists it has cleaned up its act. • Drivers whose vehicles give off more poisonous chemicals than are allowed have ten days to clean up their act. • More recently Lou has cleaned up his act and started setting the world to rights. • Legislation aimed at forcing the power firms to clean up their act is being fought tooth and nail by the polluters. • But he eventually sees their potential and cleans up his act just in time. • The industry was effectively warned to clean up its act or face legislation. • Gwen finally told her troubled son to clean up his act or get out of her house. • She told her son to clean up his act or move out. • Tish has really cleaned up her act - she doesn't drink or smoke pot any more. • Despite Mr Haider's grandiose, unbelievable last-minute pledges to clean up his act, there should be no wavering. ldoceonline.com); to start to obey certain laws or generally accepted standards of behaviour (You're going to have to clean up your act if you're serious about keeping your job. cambridge.org); to change the way you behave, so that you stop doing bad or dishonest things (You're going to have to clean up your act if you want to get into a good college. cambridge.org); to start to behave in a responsible manner (collinsdictionary.com); to reform one's conduct, improve one's practices, etc. (Nor is anyone else until the people whose reckless lending plunged us into this economic catastrophe are forced to clean up their act. • So if you want to clean up your act on the road and treat someone special use the coupons below. • The foreign-exchange market needs to clean up its act. collinsdictionary.com) |
