mopping-up operation

mopping-up operation

Any action or procedure meant to cleanse, eradicate, or resolve any final or lingering loose ends. We've gotten most of the hard work done for the merger—we'll just send our legal team through our accounts on a mopping-up operation to make sure everything is in order before the move is finalized. The dictator began a massive mopping-up operation after assuming total power, sending troops throughout the country to round up and execute any remaining dissidents.
See also: operation
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

mopping-up operation

a clean-up operation; the final stages in a project where the loose ends are taken care of. It's all over except a small mopping-up operation. The mopping-up operation from the hurricane should cost just under twenty million.
See also: operation
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

mopping-up operation

n. a clean-up operation; the final stages in a project where the loose ends are taken care of. It’s all over except a small mopping-up operation.
See also: operation
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • mop-up operation
  • let loose of
  • let loose of (someone or something)
  • cut one loose
  • at loose ends
  • cut (one's) wolf loose
  • cut one’s wolf loose
  • cut wolf loose
  • eyewash
  • flush with
References in periodicals archive
Ondo's cadaver was recovered during a mopping-up operation following Saturday's clash in Barangay Astorga, which also killed 62-year-old NPA leader Julito Pueblas.
Teen killed in Davao clash confirms rebels using children as combatants, says military
Army troops launched a massive mopping-up operation against militants from the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist group in Muqdadiyah area, 40 kilometers Northeast of Baquba, the senior army commander Jamil Shemri told al-Sumaria News, Al-Alam reported.
Iraq Launches Major Operation against ISIL in Baquba
A HUGE mopping-up operation was under way yesterday after flash floods left hundreds of homes under feet of water and cars afloat in the street.
FLOODS, SWEAT & FEARS AFTER RAIN
Heavy overnight rain sparked a busy mopping-up operation with umpires Richard Kettleborough and Steven Malone carrying out an inspection at the scheduled 11am start time.
Frustration for tourists
Only 26 balls were bowled before a deluge, followed by further frustrating showers, left large pools of surface water which sparked an intensive mopping-up operation by the New Road groundstaff.
Pears efforts ended by downpour
Although a mopping-up operation, followed by further track inspections, did result in free practice session being given the go ahead later in the day, three top teams declined the opportunity.
Motor Racing: Mallory is OK today
There's also a cute Bunny, who ends up blowing everyone away in a shotgun massacre--everyone except Mami, who's on hand for the mopping-up operation.
The Project. (Reviews)
A HUGE mopping-up operation is continuing today after devastating floods hit Scotland.
Scotland clears up after floods chaos
The extra work involved has left Aberdeen City Council facing a pounds 400,000 overspend following the mopping-up operation over Christmas.
City snowed under
Now a Timely Tidy Truck is not claimed to stop accidents but it will help get things moving again quickly because these small mobile cleaning stations can greatly reduce the time, and therefore cost involved, in any mopping-up operation.
Timely Tidy Trucks
Hayward defended the mopping-up operation in the ocean as being slick and effective.
Oil's not well at BP; RESULT!
No-one was evacuated, but firemen from Sheldon spent more than an hour in a massive mopping-up operation.
Tower block flooded by vandals
Insurers put the cost of the mopping-up operation last year at pounds 1 billion, with householders footing the bill through higher premiums.
Fact File
SKY SPORTS found themselves with six hours of airtime to fill after Freddie Flintoff produced the most inspired mopping-up operation since Mrs Mop was at large.
Twittering can fill gap in the Sky; WICKETWHISPERS
The complex, built under the controversial Private Finance Initiative scheme, will be shut for at least a week while a huge mopping-up operation is carried out.
Academy copped it