mop up

mop up

1. To clean something up, such as a spill, often literally with a mop. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "mop" and "up." Hand me a rag so I can mop up this juice.
2. To remedy problems caused by someone or something else. He needs to hire a PR person to mop up the mess he made with those comments.
3. To do the minor, final steps that complete a task. Can you mop up this filing? I have to be in a meeting right now.
4. To remove the final enemy troops from an area that has been reclaimed. There aren't many troops left for us to mop up.
See also: mop, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

mop something up

to clean up something, such as a spill, with a mop or with a mopping motion. Please mop this mess up. I will mop up this mess.
See also: mop, up

mop up

 (after someone or something)
1. Lit. to clean up with a mop a sloppy mess made by someone or something. I am the one who has to mop up after the mess you made!
2. Fig. to rectify a problem that someone or something has created. You made a fuss in the conference and upset everyone. I spent hours mopping up after you in private meetings with all in attendance.
See also: mop, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

mop up

1. Clear an area of remaining enemy troops after a victory, as in They left behind just one squadron to mop up. [c. 1900]
2. 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.
See also: mop, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • mop down
  • mop off
  • sponge from
  • sponge from (someone or something)
  • sponge up
  • angle
  • angling
  • mop up with
  • mop up with (something)
  • orient to (something)
References in periodicals archive
While contending that some the illicit firearms were surrendered by some individuals, Adeoye maintained that his command recovered others through its mop up operations, stressing that the ultimatum given by the Inspector General of Police had expired but 'we have recovered few as a result of that ultimatum given.'
Police Showcase Arms Mop-Up In State Commands
Despite the mop ups and the consequently constrained system liquidity, trading in the treasury bills market was positive with yields declining 42 basis points (bps) week-on-week to -21bps.
N449.37bn Inflows From Maturing Bills May Moderate Yield
Nevertheless, we expect the CBN to sustain its weekly OMO mop ups in the week,' Afrinvest (West) Africa Limited stated.
Moderation in interbank rates expected on N594.36bn T-Bills maturities
This requires liquidity injections or mop ups at appropriate periods in time.
Liquidity management aims at price stability : SBP
'We believe the apex bank will sustain its trend of liquidity mop ups and money market rates could trend higher,' dealers at Afrinvest said.
Rates to trend higher despite N183.3bn OMO maturities
'Also, it is expected that an OMO maturity of N64.3billion will impact on liquidity levels while the CBN continues with its unpredictable OMO mop ups.
Rates to moderate on OMO inflow, Bond outflows