wipe the floor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'wipe the floor' is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it in a variety of contexts, such as in a set of instructions, a recipe, or even in a narrative. For example, "I stepped into the living room and saw a mess, so I grabbed the broom and began to wipe the floor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Technically, they wipe the floor.

The New Yorker

Next, I wipe the floor of the cell.

The New Yorker

Opinion polls suggest Ms Bachelet would wipe the floor with either of them.But that may change.

The Economist

But I've seen precocious preteenagers wipe the floor with fairly elite published writers.

The New York Times - Books

Scott Brown will wipe the floor with you in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

The New York Times

"You can wipe the floor with those people!" one of her remaining supporters shouted.

The New York Times

At night, before bed, I'll wipe the floor and clean the sink unit one more time.

The New Yorker

I watched him wipe the floor with opponents in television studios.

The Guardian

Will Cosima live to wipe the floor with everyone at Runewars again?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Disclaimer: this list doesn't include any breakcore; those lot would wipe the floor with everyone else.

Vice

Obama's going to wipe the floor with this Republican field.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "wipe the floor" to describe a competition, ensure the context clearly indicates a decisive victory, not just a slight advantage. It is best suited for situations where the dominance is obvious.

Common error

Avoid using "wipe the floor" in contexts where a literal cleaning is intended, as it can cause confusion. In cleaning contexts, opt for more descriptive phrases like "mop the floor" or "clean the floor".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wipe the floor" primarily functions as an idiomatic verb phrase. It is used figuratively to describe a situation where someone or something decisively defeats an opponent or competitor. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the idiomatic phrase "wipe the floor" signifies a decisive victory or thorough cleaning. It is grammatically sound, widely used, and particularly common in news and media contexts. As indicated by Ludwig, this idiom functions to underscore the dominance in a competitive situation. While predominantly neutral in register, it is advisable to use more formal alternatives in academic or highly professional settings. Though frequent, being mindful of its potential to cause confusion in a literal setting is important.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mop the floor with

Maintains the cleaning metaphor while using a different verb, "mop", to convey a similar sense of thoroughness.

demolish utterly

Replaces the gentler "wipe" with the more forceful "demolish", stressing the severity of the defeat.

trounce decisively

Replaces "wipe" with "trounce", emphasizing the completeness and decisiveness of the victory.

thoroughly defeat

Focuses on the act of winning decisively, replacing the cleaning metaphor with a direct statement of victory.

beat soundly

Offers a simple and direct alternative to express a significant win, avoiding metaphorical language.

outclass entirely

Indicates a clear difference in class or quality, resulting in a dominant performance.

dominate completely

Replaces the idiomatic expression with a more straightforward term emphasizing complete control and superiority.

vanquish entirely

Uses a more formal term, "vanquish", to suggest a complete and overwhelming defeat.

clean up completely

Uses "clean up" to imply a total victory, broadening the context beyond physical cleaning.

outperform significantly

Shifts the focus to performance, highlighting a considerable difference in skill or achievement.

FAQs

How can I use "wipe the floor" in a sentence?

The phrase "wipe the floor" is used idiomatically to mean to decisively defeat someone. For example, "Our team is going to "wipe the floor" with the competition."

What's the difference between "mop the floor" and "wipe the floor"?

"Mop the floor" refers to the literal act of cleaning a floor with a mop. "Wipe the floor", on the other hand, is an idiom meaning to thoroughly defeat someone in a competition or argument. They are not interchangeable.

What can I say instead of "wipe the floor"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "dominate completely", "thoroughly defeat", or "mop the floor with".

Is it appropriate to use "wipe the floor" in formal writing?

While "wipe the floor" is a common idiom, it is generally considered informal. In formal writing, it's best to use more professional alternatives such as "achieve a resounding victory" or "secure a decisive win".