operation

clean-up operation

1. An operation or concerted effort to clean or tidy some large area or thing. Now that the festival is over, the city is organizing a massive clean-up operation to return the streets to their former state. Following the spill, the oil company was court-ordered to pay for a clean-up operation for the entire region.
2. 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 clean-up operation to make sure everything is in order before the move is finalized. The dictator began a massive clean-up operation after assuming total power, sending troops throughout the country to round up and execute any remaining dissidents.
See also: operation

come into operation

To begin to apply, operate, take effect, or be enforced. Several policies, aimed at helping struggling citizens get by, come into operation next month. The new law will come into operation on the first of January.
See also: come, operation

in operation

Functioning or working as intended; operational or in current use. Once the factory is in operation, we expect to provide over 300 jobs to local residents. The family-owned restaurant, which has been in operation for nearly 85 years, announced that it will be closing on Friday. We have a policy in operation in case something like this ever happened.
See also: 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

mop-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 mop-up operation to make sure everything is in order before the move is finalized. The dictator began a massive mop-up operation after assuming total power, sending troops throughout the country to round up and execute any remaining dissidents.
See also: operation

put (something) into operation

To commence doing or using something. We've spent enough time preparing—let's put this plan into operation. We finally put the machine into operation after spending all morning repairing it.
See also: operation, put

the brains of the/this/that operation

The primary organizer of something. I doubt Jim and John had anything to do with the break-in. I bet you Tyler was the brains of the operation—those boys are just his toadies. You think it's a terrible idea? Well, who's the brains of this operation, you or I?
See also: brain, of, operation, that, this
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.

come into opeˈration

start working; start having an effect: The new rules come into operation from next week.
See also: come, operation

in opeˈration

working, being used or having an effect: The system needs to be in operation for six months before it can be assessed. Temporary traffic controls are in operation on New Road.
See also: operation

put something into opeˈration

make something start working; start using something: It’s time to put our plan into operation.
See also: operation, put, something
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

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:
  • clean-up operation
  • clean up
  • you could eat off the floor(s)
  • clean out of
  • clean (someone or something) out of (something)
  • clean someone out
  • clean out
  • clean as a hound's tooth
  • (as) clean as a hound's tooth
  • be (as) clean as a new pin
References in periodicals archive
Gen Ghafoor said he would soon announce the completion of the operation in a press conference in next few days.
Security forces arrest 31 suspects, Afghan citizens in Quetta
After Operation Rah-e-Nijat, PAF continued its operations in support of Pakistan Army; Operation Brekna in Mohmand, Operation Koh-e-Sufaid and Operation Azmara-e-Gharo in Kurram and Orakzai agencies.
Pakistan's Offensive Air Power in Counter-Terrorism Operations
"Operation Kill-a-Watt provides New Yorkers with a perfect opportunity to upgrade their lighting systems.
Operation Kill-A-Watt to give away some green
"There are a myriad of players involved in port operations. In addition to the U.S.
1st ID equipment moves out
New England Recycling encompasses or is affiliated with operations that recycle aggregates, mixed C&D and wood debris, including stumps.
Theory of evolution: New England Recycling evolves to match an increasingly sophisticated mixed C&D recycling industry
Large companies are more likely than medium or small companies to have a proper business continuity plan for cash management and treasury operations
Treasury's role in planning for the worst-case scenario
"This operation is a prime example of Iraqi security forces taking on greater responsibility in the security of the Iraqi people," said 1st Lt.
Griffins fly Iraqi soldiers into battle
This operation overloads the server running the storage application and limits the performance and scalability of the storage application.
Intelligent switches--moving beyond virtualization
standards in accounting for discontinued operations.
Convergence: in search of the best: CPAs should understand how U.S. and foreign accounting standards influence each other
The ISO 14001 process consists of general requirements, environmental policy, planning, implementation and operation, checking and corrective action and management review.
Blueprint for success: green metals has established and grown its business by merging U.S. and Japanese business philosophies
Attorney's Office agreed to pay for the two-page notice because the operation included the removal of guns and drugs from the community, a tie-in with the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.
"The List" a warrant service strategy
Gastric-bypass surgery--which detours food around most of the stomach--and other weight-loss, or bariatric, operations usually mitigate numerous conditions, including diabetes, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure and cholesterol.
Weight-loss costs: a critical look at gastric surgery
7 One of the two systems of fuel supply lines including boilers restarted operation.
Sanix Energy Restarts Operations at Tomakomai Power Plant
The average person, on reading this list, would assume that Operation Blessing must be a credible charity along the lines of the Red Cross and many of the others listed.
Another FEMA failure: passing the plate for Pat Robertson
Walker also believes his time spent outside the IT realm gives him a significant advantage in working and connecting with the business side of the operation, particularly with skills concerning distribution and the selling network.
The outside and inside view: Terry Walker, Hartford Life's new CIO, sets his sights on enhancing the company's micro-enterprise model, strengthening its IT talent pool and using technology to help increase the company's international presence