Mop up Meaning in English

expression

US

UK

Definition

To clean something by wiping with a mop, usually liquid spills. In a figurative sense, it means to finish a task or remove remaining problems or enemies.

Usage & Nuances

Used both literally (cleaning with a mop) and figuratively (completing, eliminating remnants). Common in news, sports, and military contexts ("mop up operation"). In casual English, often used after a mess or to mean 'finish up' remaining work.

• Spanish: limpiar (con mopa) - terminar de limpiar - eliminar (figurado)
• Portuguese (BR): limpar (com esfregão) - finalizar a limpeza - eliminar (sentido figurado)
• Portuguese (PT): limpar (com esfregona) - acabar de limpar - eliminar (figurado)
• Chinese (Simplified): 拖干净 - 收尾 - 清除（比喻）
• Chinese (Traditional): 拖乾淨 - 收尾 - 清除（比喻）
• Hindi: पोंछना - सफाई पूरी करना - (आम तौर पर) खत्म करना
• Arabic: مسح (بالممسحة) - إنهاء التنظيف - القضاء على (مجازي)
• Bengali: মোপ দিয়ে পরিষ্কার করা - শেষ করা (কাজ বা অবশিষ্ট সমস্যা)
• Russian: вытирать (шваброй) - завершать (устранять остатки)
• Japanese: モップで拭き取る - 片付ける（残りを取り除く）
• Vietnamese: lau đi bằng cây lau nhà - xử lý nốt (vấn đề hoặc công việc còn lại)
• Korean: 걸레로 닦다 - 마무리하다 (남은 일이나 문제를 해결하다)
• Turkish: paspasla silmek - sonunu getirmek (kalan sorunları/işleri bitirmek)
• Urdu: پوچھا لگانا - باقی کام نمٹانا
• Indonesian: mengepel - menyelesaikan (mengatasi sisa masalah)

Example Sentences

Please mop up the water on the kitchen floor.

basic

He had to mop up the spilled juice before guests arrived.

basic

After dinner, we all helped mop up the mess.

basic

We just need to mop up a few last details before the project is finished.

natural

The soccer team worked hard to mop up the competition in the second half.

natural

The army had to mop up the remaining enemy forces after the main battle.

natural