to clean with a mop
informal to complete (a task, etc)
military to clear (remaining enemy forces) after a battle, as by killing, taking prisoner, etc
Clear an area of remaining enemy troops after a victory, as in They left behind just one squadron to mop up . [c. 1900]
Perform the minor tasks that conclude a project or activity, as in Go ahead, I'll mop up these last invoices . [First half of 1900s] Both usages transfer the task of housecleaning with a mop to other kinds of cleanup.
First recorded in 1895–1900; noun use of verb phrase mop up
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Now, the roughly half a million barrels a day of Venezuelan crude that China used to mop up will likely be diverted to U.S. refineries along the Gulf Coast.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 2026
California State Parks says no one from its agency interfered with fire suppression or mop up or influenced LAFD’s decision to not use bulldozers.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 27, 2025
Kuroda didn’t, leaving Ueda to mop up his mess.
From Barron's • Dec. 17, 2025
It states that “modified mop up for ground fuels should be utilized where possible” and “spading should be minimized and restricted to hot areas near fire lines.”
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 27, 2025
“Well, you are a clumsy,” said Ellen, as she bent down to mop up the water.
From "Mary Poppins" by P. L. Travers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
