wipe the floor (with) v.
to beat decisively, to thrash; also ad hoc vars. (e.g. cit. 1908).
![]() | Bulletin (Sydney) 29 Oct. 6/1: Mr. Dibbs wiped the floor with all the preceding speakers by taking the bung out of his grammar and uncorking his geography and letting fly the following choice sentiment: [...]. | |
![]() | Detroit Free Press Aug. n.p.: [...] He’d wipe up the ground with him; he’d walk all over him [F&H]. | |
![]() | Sporting Times 25 Jan. 1/4: That they dusted all the furniture with me need not be said. | |
![]() | Maggie, a Girl of the Streets (2001) 21: Dose mugs can’t phase me. Dey knows I kin wipe up deh street wid any tree of dem. | |
![]() | On the Wallaby 252: So you’re the man who’s going to wipe the dirt with me, to bang me up and down creation till my own mother wouldn’t know me, eh? | |
![]() | N.Y. Press 9 Dec. in Stallman (1966) 113: Say, young feller, if yeh go shootin’ off yer face at me, I’ll wipe d’ joint wid yeh. | in|
![]() | Dumont’s Joke Book 30: She’d wipe the floor up with him / When she was full of beer. | |
![]() | Bulletin (Sydney) 3 Mar. 14/3: weary humper: Any great events been comin’ off up in the town lately, Billy? / billy: My word, yes – lots. Me brother Tom just got six months few cow-duffin’; ole Murphy’s been wipen’ the street with the new trap; dad’s stopped ’is Bulletin. | |
![]() | By Bolo and Krag 175: And did the —teenth ever fail to wipe the floor with any organization of men that ever drew gun. | |
![]() | Magnet 7 Mar. 5: Tell us where he is, or we’ll wipe up the mud in the close with you! | |
![]() | Dundee Courier 5 May 3/4: I would wipe the floor with you, hair and all. | |
![]() | Magnet 10 Sept. 12: I have a jolly good mind to wade in and wipe up the floor with you. | |
![]() | Truth (Melbourne) 24 Jan. 10/5: Come here, you fat — , and I’ll wipe the floor with you. | |
![]() | Daily Liar 1/4: The Huns can’t sweep the floor with us, / Send us victorious. | |
![]() | Ulysses 305: Myler dusted the floor with him, says Alf. | |
![]() | Me And Gus (1977) 15: Nick [...] said ‘Hold the reins, Mary, while I get out and wipe the dirt with that snipe.’. | ‘Helping Out Gus’ in|
![]() | (con. 1903) Gangs of N.Y. 285: As Monk expressed it, ‘We’ll wipe up de earth wit’ youse guys.’. | |
![]() | Hull Dly Mail 6 May 3/4: A woman [...] shouted at the defendant: ‘If you were my man, I’d wipe the floor with you’. | |
![]() | This Gutter Life 283: Come on now, or I’ll climb that grid and wipe the bloody floor with you! | |
![]() | Capricornia (1939) 199: He told the Officer that if he, the Officer, were not so old and feeble he would wipe the ground with him. | |
![]() | Harder They Fall (1971) 255: You [...] grind out sausage about how your great Man Mountain is going to wipe the floor with poor old Gus Lennert. | |
![]() | Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1964) 132: For good looks he could have wiped the floor with Clark Gable or any other star. | |
![]() | There is a Happy Land (1964) 119: Garno was tougher than I was and he was going to wipe the blinking floor with me. | |
![]() | Panic in Needle Park (1971) 78: Bobby, he’d wipe the streets with you, let’s face it. He’s healthy, and look at you. | |
![]() | Union Dues (1978) 105: We catch you out, we wipe up this street with your old gray ass. | |
![]() | (con. 1930s) Emerald Square 208: Did she not sing solo in the chapel choir? I would wipe the floor with her. | |
![]() | Secret World of the Irish Male (1995) 237: Your man roars again, ‘we’ll wipe the bleedin floor with yez.’. | |
![]() | Get Shorty [film script] I’ll make you a deal. If you can get out of here before I take my coat off, I won’t clean the floor with you, get your little costume all messed up. | |
![]() | Guardian Guide 12–18 Feb. 52: Even Ringo had more talent. Thomas the Tank engine wipes the floor with it. | |
![]() | When You’re Engulfed in Flames 97: Ya mutt. I’ll mopthe fucking floor with you. |