spring-cleaning
/'spriɳ,kli:niɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A thorough cleaning of a house or building, traditionally done in the spring: The term specifically refers to the annual practice of deeply cleaning a home after winter, involving tasks not done in regular cleaning, such as washing windows, cleaning behind furniture, and decluttering.
Usage
- As a noun: "Spring-cleaning" is typically used as a non-count noun to describe the activity itself. It can be used with or without a hyphen, though the hyphenated form is common.
- We do our spring-cleaning every April.
- The whole house is in chaos because of the spring cleaning.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- "to do (the) spring-cleaning": This is the standard collocation for performing this activity.
- It's my turn to do the spring-cleaning this year.
- Used metaphorically: The term can be applied to non-literal contexts to mean a thorough review, reorganization, or removal of unnecessary items.
- The company is doing some financial spring-cleaning to cut costs.
- I gave my computer files a good spring-cleaning.
Variants and Related Words
- Spring-clean (verb): To perform a spring-cleaning.
- We need to spring-clean the attic this weekend.
- Spring cleaner (noun, informal): A person who is engaged in spring-cleaning.
- Deep clean (noun/phrasal verb): A very thorough cleaning, similar in intensity but not necessarily seasonal.
Synonyms
- Thorough cleaning: A complete and detailed cleaning.
- Annual cleaning: Cleaning done once a year.
- House cleaning: The general activity of cleaning a house (can be less intensive).
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "Clean sweep": While not specific to spring, this idiom means a complete removal or change and can be related in the context of clearing out.
- The new manager made a clean sweep of the old policies. (This conveys a similar idea of a fresh start, as spring-cleaning does for a home.)
Noun
- the activity of cleaning a house thoroughly at the end of winter