His mom helped him clean up.

Meaning: The boy's mom gave him assistance to make himself clean and tidy.

Choice of Words: Helped means to give assistance or support to someone. Clean up means to make something clean or tidy.

Alternative Expressions

The boy's mother assisted him in tidying up.

Meaning: This means the same as the first sentence, but it uses more formal language.

Choice of Words: The boy's mother is a more formal way to refer to the boy's mom. Assisted is a more formal word for helped. Him refers back to the boy. Tidying up is a synonym for cleaning up.

The boy's mom pitched in to help him get the place looking spiffy.

Meaning: This sentence uses more informal language and adds a bit of humor to the situation. It means that the boy's mom helped him clean up and make the place look neat and tidy.

Choice of Words: Pitched in means to contribute effort or assistance. Spiffy means neat and tidy.

Related Expressions