PhrasesHub

mopping the floor

    Definitions

      • discourage someone
        Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

      • expressing dominance
        To assert one's power or authority over someone else, often in a condescending or patronizing manner

    Examples of mopping the floor

    • John has been mopping the floor with his competitors in the market.

      This idiom means that John has been overwhelmingly successful in his industry and leaving his competitors far behind. It comes from the image of someone mopping up a floor, leaving other substances behind. ANOTHER

    • The new marketing strategy mopped the floor with our sales projections.

      This idiom means that the marketing strategy performed much better than expected. It comes from the idea that mopping a floor removes a mess much more efficiently than anticipated. THIRD

    • The debate team mopped the floor with their opponents in the final round.

      This idiom means that the debate team won decisively against their opponents. It comes from the image of someone mopping up a floor, leaving the opposing team behind. Overall, the phrase "mopping the floor" implies a decisive and overwhelming victory or success.

    • She's been mopping the floor with her competitors in the marketing industry.

      This is an idiomatic expression that means she has been outperforming her competitors significantly, much like how mopping the floor cleans it thoroughly and quickly.

    • The new sales strategy has really been mopping the floor with our revenue targets.

      In this case, "mopping the floor" is being used as a metaphor to emphasize the effectiveness and efficiency of the new sales strategy in achieving the revenue targets.

    • The team's performance in the finals was so impressive that they mopped the floor with their opponents.

      This idiom is being used here to mean that the team completely outplayed and overpowered their opponents, much like how mopping the floor results in a clean and undisputed surface.

    • The business has been shifting gears and mopping the floor with the competition since launching its new product line.

      This expression means that the business has been dominating its competition ever since it introduced its new product line, almost like how mopping the floor leaves no dirt or grime behind.

    • John has been mopping the floor with his competitors in the industry lately.

      John has been outperforming his competitors in a dominating way, much like how effectively mopping the floor can remove dirt and grime. The phrase "mopping the floor" here is used metaphorically to describe John's impressive performance in the market.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "mopping the floor" can be used to discourage someone from a particular action by cautioning them about its negative consequences. It can also be used to express dominance and assert one's power over someone else.

    Origin of "mopping the floor"

    The origin of the idiom "mopping the floor" can be traced back to the literal act of mopping a floor. When someone is mopping a floor, they are cleaning and maintaining it, which may not always be a pleasant or enjoyable task. In the context of discouraging someone, the idiom may have originated from the idea that engaging in a certain action or task is as unpleasant as mopping the floor. In the context of expressing dominance, the idiom may have originated from the visual image of someone literally mopping the floor, which can be seen as a symbol of control and superiority. Overall, the idiom likely developed from the literal act of mopping and evolved to represent discouragement and dominance in different contexts.