mopping-up
Americanadjective
-
serving to complete or put the finishing touches to a phase of a particular action.
-
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.
Abrar Ahmed complemented Shadab neatly, finishing with 3-25, while left-arm quick Salman Mirza bowled with fire, mopping up the tail with figures of 3-18 as Sri Lanka were bowled out with four balls unused.
From Barron's • Jan. 7, 2026
Owens and her family saved the house, wedging plywood underneath the doorways during the storm and mopping up water faster than it seeped inside.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025
The innings fell away from 205-2 when Carty fell three balls after reaching his century, with Rashid taking 4-63 and Mahmood's three late wickets mopping up the tail.
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2025
"My kids thought they were getting a sibling so when you have a miscarriage you're not only mopping up your own sadness, but theirs too."
From BBC • Dec. 30, 2024
Basically everybody Mr. Sager—weak maybe, same as Sabbatini, mopping up after rich kids for too many years, pension for custodial services too good to lose.
From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin
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.
