wipe off the face of the earth

wipe (someone or something) off the face of the earth

To totally eliminate, eradicate, or destroy someone or something. The president vowed to wipe these terrorist scumbags off the face of the earth. Through our vaccination efforts, we've been able to wipe polio off the face of the earth.
See also: earth, face, of, off, wipe
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

wipe someone or something off the face of the earth

Fig. to demolish every trace of someone or something. A great storm will come and wipe all the people off the face of the earth. The wind blew my old barn off the face of the earth! Nothing was left.
See also: earth, face, of, off, wipe
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • wipe (someone or something) off the face of the earth
  • wipe something off the face of the earth
  • wipe something off the map
  • wipe (someone or something) off the map
  • wipe off the map
  • wipe (something) off the map
  • take an axe to
  • wipe
  • wipe off
  • wipe down
References in periodicals archive
ROOM 101 BBC1 8.30pm Frank Skinner (left) referees as Lauren Laverne, David O'Doherty and Larry Lamb argue about what pet hates they want to wipe off the face of the Earth.
March 2 FRIDAY
As Philip closes in, the action moves from Australia to America, but he's in danger of becoming psychologically poisoned by the same vile crimes that he's attempting to wipe off the face of the Earth.
Net closes in on sick bet scam; FEED *** 18