wipe

wipe off

1. To clean or dry some surface by wiping or rubbing it. A noun or pronoun can be used between "wipe" and "off." Here, take this cloth and wipe off the windows so I can see while I'm driving. I wiped my face off with a towel after coming inside from the rain.

2. To wipe or rub something in order to remove it from a surface. A noun or pronoun can be used between "wipe" and "off." I kept having to wipe fog off my glasses because it was so warm in the room. It's been too long since I wiped off the dust from these shelves.

3. To remove some expression promptly or hurriedly from one's face. A noun or pronoun can be used between "wipe" and "off." He told me to wipe the smirk off my face. Wipe off that frown—there's no need to be so glum!

4. To completely eliminate, eradicate, or destroy some large group, population, or settlement. A noun or pronoun is used between "wipe" and "off." The hurricane wiped the entire village off the map. The president vowed to wipe the terrorists off the face of the earth.

See also: off, wipe

wipe out

1. verb To obliterate. A noun or pronoun can be used between "wipe" and "out." Many buildings were wiped out during the siege.

2. verb To kill, especially in large numbers. A noun or pronoun can be used between "wipe" and "out." The highly contagious illness wiped out an entire community of people. An attack that large could wipe us all out. Ray wiped out the informant, just as the boss told him to.

3. verb To negate something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "wipe" and "out." The boss's decision against our proposal wiped out all of our hard work.

4. verb To exhaust or fatigue someone. A noun or pronoun can be used between "wipe" and "out." All of that cleaning totally wiped me out—I need a nap.

5. verb To erase or delete information permanently and/or on a large scale. A noun or pronoun can be used between "wipe" and "out." We need to wipe out all of our personal information before we try to sell this computer.

6. verb To fall or tumble off of something, often a skateboard, surfboard, or bicycle. I wiped out on my skateboard today and scraped my leg on the pavement.

7. verb To deplete the supply of something, often when it relates to finances. A noun or pronoun can be used between "wipe" and "out." I have a big family, so shopping for Christmas gifts totally wipes out my bank account every year. The demand for clean water wiped our supply out in days.

8. verb To cause someone financial hardship. A noun or pronoun can be used between "wipe" and "out." I invested a ton of money in that start-up, so its failure totally wiped me out.

9. verb To fail in a significant or spectacular way. That candidate really wiped out in the election—his opponent completely trounced him.

10. verb To crash. I tried to catch up to the puck, but then I lost an edge and totally wiped out.

11. noun A fall or tumble off of something, often a skateboard, surfboard, or bicycle. As a noun, the phrase is usually hyphenated. I had a wipe-out while skateboarding today—that's why my leg is all scraped up.

12. noun A crash. As a noun, the phrase is usually hyphenated. I tried to catch up to the puck, but then I lost an edge and had a total wipe-out.

13. noun A loser or failure. As a noun, the phrase is usually hyphenated. Don't hang out with that kid—he's a real wipe-out.

See also: out, wipe

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

wipe someone or something (off) (with something)

to clean someone or something by wiping with something. Tony wiped the baby off with a soft cloth. Jane wiped off the counter with a rag. Tom fell in the mud and asked Ralph to wipe him off.

wipe something (off) (on something)

to remove something by wiping it on something else. Don't wipe your feet off on the carpet. Don't wipe off your feet on the carpet, wipe them on the mat.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

wipe

n. a murder; a killing. (see also wipe out.) The victim of the latest mob wipe was hauled out of the river this morning.

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.