wipe the floor with someone
wipe the floor with someone (idiom)
/waɪp ðə flɔr wɪð ˈsʌmwʌn/
Meaning
- Defeat someone completely in a contest, game, or fight.
- Overpower an opponent with great ease or skill.
- Embarrass someone by performing much better than them.
- Dominate another person by showing much greater strength or talent.
- Beat someone so badly that the win feels humiliating for them.
- Outperform a rival to the point where their effort seems pointless.
Synonyms: trounce; crush; annihilate; humiliate.
Example Sentences
- She wiped the floor with someone in the final tennis match.
- The debate team wiped the floor with someone after weeks of practice.
- Even with no sleep, he wiped the floor with someone in the chess tournament.
- Our school band wiped the floor with someone at the interschool competition.
- The lawyer wiped the floor with someone in court by pointing out every flaw.
- That comedian wiped the floor with someone and had the whole crowd laughing.
Origin and History
The idiom “wipe the floor with someone” first appeared in the late 19th century. It signifies a complete and often humiliating defeat of one person by another. The phrase likely originated in the United States, as early printed records and linguistic studies suggest. For instance, the 1897 publication A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon and Cant by Albert Barrère and Charles Godfrey Leland defines the expression as:
“A common slang phrase, signifying that one man has thrashed another so completely as to have taken him like a broom or a mop, and swept or cleaned the floor with him.”
This vivid imagery suggests a scenario where the defeated individual is metaphorically used to clean the floor, emphasizing the thoroughness of the defeat.
Earliest Printed Records
The earliest known printed usage of the phrase dates back to 1887 in Australia. An article from The Bulletin (Sydney) on October 29, 1887, states:
“Mr. Dibbs wiped the floor with all the preceding speakers by taking the bung out of his grammar and uncorking his geography…”
This citation indicates that the phrase was used metaphorically to describe a speaker’s dominance over others in a debate or discussion.
Theories on Origin
- Literal Interpretation
One theory posits that the phrase originated from physical altercations, particularly in barroom brawls common in the late 1800s. After such fights, the loser might be left lying on the floor, metaphorically suggesting they had been used to clean it. This interpretation aligns with the vivid description provided in the 1897 dictionary. - Wrestling and Combat Sports
Another theory suggests that the phrase stems from wrestling or combat sports, where a dominant wrestler would overpower their opponent, leaving them flat on the mat. The defeated opponent’s position on the floor could metaphorically imply that they had been “wiped” across it. - Cleaning Metaphor
A more figurative interpretation relates to the act of cleaning. Just as a mop or cloth is used to wipe a floor clean, defeating someone thoroughly in a competition or argument could be likened to “wiping the floor” with them, leaving no trace of their challenge.
Geographical Spread
While the phrase likely originated in the United States, it quickly spread to other English-speaking countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia. Its usage in Australian publications as early as 1887 indicates its rapid adoption and integration into colloquial language across different regions.
Variants
- mop the floor with someone
- clean the floor with someone
- scrub the floor with someone
- wipe the ground with someone
About the Author
Elena Jones holds a PhD in Education from Harvard University. She has extensive experience teaching at both the K–12 and university levels, with a particular focus on English as a Second Language. Elena has dedicated her career to advancing educational practices, and she has contributed to numerous educational journals.
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