mop up
Handle remaining details
Mop up means to clean remaining liquid with a mop or absorbent material: She mopped up the spilled milk.
By extension, it means to finish off remaining tasks or deal with what's left: We need to mop up a few details before the launch.
In military contexts, mopping up is eliminating remaining enemy resistance after a battle has been won.
Remove completely
- neutralizeCancel an effect
- clear outLeave quickly, often urgently
- sweepBrush clean with broom
- secureProtected from harm
capture · defeat · remnants · resistance · stragglers · pockets · operation · patrol
Lacking nothing, fully done
- concludeEnd or infer
- finish offComplete or consume entirely
- settleReach final terms
- resolveFirmness of purpose
clinch · seal · close out · odds and ends · leftovers · remnants · outstanding · paperwork
eliminate
Remove completely
- neutralizeCancel an effect
- clear outLeave quickly, often urgently
- sweepBrush clean with broom
secure · capture · defeat · remnants · resistance · stragglers · pockets · operation · patrol · consolidate
complete
Lacking nothing, fully done
- concludeEnd or infer
- finish offComplete or consume entirely
- settleReach final terms
resolve · clinch · seal · close out · odds and ends · leftovers · remnants · outstanding · paperwork · aftermath
bucket
Open-top carrying vessel
rinse · suds · soap · swab · squeegee · rag · towel · spill · floor · mess
crush
Compress with force
overwhelm · sweep · landslide · blowout · victory · competition · tournament · awards · prizes · votes
- cleanlinessclean, cleanliness, dirty, neatness, filthy
- cleanupdebris removal, litter removal, junk removal, waste disposal, litter pickup
- finishfinish, complete, conclude, end, finalize
- absorbsoak, sponge, imbibe, blot, saturate
- military tacticstactics, flanking, maneuver, ambush, battle formations
mop upspearhead
Lead an effort
first strike · frontal assault · advance · breakthrough · charge