mopping-up
Americanadjective
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serving to complete or put the finishing touches to a phase of a particular action.
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serving to complete a military campaign by killing or capturing any remaining enemy troops.
a mopping-up operation.
Etymology
Origin of mopping-up
1905–10; mop up + -ing 1, used attributively
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Ukrainian military said last week that its forces had raised the national flag in the strategic settlement, but were still carrying out mopping-up operations.
From Reuters ● Aug. 28, 2023
"He was clearly in pain and couldn't run properly. It was a gutsy effort, but it means it's a mopping-up operation for Australia tomorrow."
From BBC ● Dec. 19, 2021
“It’s a total mopping-up operation. The Justice Ministry isn’t even trying to respect decorum,” Andrei Bastunets, the head of the organization, said.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 21, 2021
Exactly what happened to my great-uncle isn’t recorded in regimental reports, which describe minor mopping-up operations on Nov. 2 but no significant clashes.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 2, 2018
After that, it was just a mopping-up exercise: another handful of moves, and the game was done.
From "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
