mop-up
noun
the act, process, or an instance of mopping up; completion of an operation or action.
mop-up
American
[mop-uhp]
/ ˈmɒpˌʌp /
noun
mop up
British
verb
-
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
noun
mop up
Idioms
-
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.
Etymology
Origin of mop-up
First recorded in 1895–1900; noun use of verb phrase mop up
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.
See Examples For:
At that point, Battalion Chief Martin Mullen, who was running the mop-up operation, had walked three laps around the perimeter of the fire.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 11, 2026
Instead, we should be filling the hoses with water to do a more thorough mop-up.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 11, 2026
Even with the internal investigation underway, Moore said he spoke with the battalion chief who was on duty during the Lachman fire mop-up.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 13, 2026
A former L.A. fire chief who asked not to be identified so he could speak candidly said firefighters had other options for mop-up.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 27, 2025
They could have brought a hound here just on chance that they might miss one of us in the initial mop-up.
From Storm Over Warlock by Andre Norton
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
Kuroda didn’t, leaving Ueda to mop up his mess.
From Barron's ● Dec. 17, 2025
When Starc returned to mop up the lower-order, Jamie Smith and Wood were bounced out either side of Atkinson tamely poking an edge.
From BBC ● Nov. 21, 2025
Incident commanders, he said, usually rely on hand crews and fire engines for mop up operations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 19, 2025
“Indeed,” said Mrs. Baker “You’ll have to air it out after you mop up the cider.”
From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt
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.
