wipe the floor with someone: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  Global (especially US and UK)informalcolloquial
  • To defeat someone completely or to beat them very easily in a competition, argument, or contest.
  • To humiliate or overpower someone decisively.

  Examples

  Beta

  • In yesterday’s chess tournament, Maria wiped the floor with all her opponents.

    En el torneo de ajedrez de ayer, María derrotó fácilmente a todos sus oponentes.

  • If you think you can beat John in soccer, think again—he always wipes the floor with everyone else.

    Si crees que puedes vencer a John en fútbol, piénsalo otra vez—él siempre derrota fácilmente a todos los demás.

  • During the debate, the team wiped the floor with their rivals, leaving no room for doubt.

    Durante el debate, el equipo humilló a sus rivales, sin dejar lugar a dudas.

• 2.

  Globalliteralrare
  • To perform the act of cleaning a floor while someone else is present on or near it (literal and uncommon).

  Examples

  Beta

  • While I was cooking, my sister wiped the floor with a mop to clean up the spilled sauce.

    Mientras yo cocinaba, mi hermana limpió el piso con un trapeador para limpiar la salsa derramada.

  • The janitor wiped the floor with a damp cloth as the children played nearby.

    El conserje limpió el piso con un paño húmedo mientras los niños jugaban cerca.

  • Yesterday, they wiped the floor with disinfectant while the guests were still in the lobby.

    Ayer, limpiaron el piso con desinfectante mientras los invitados todavía estaban en el vestíbulo.

  • She wiped the floor with a broom carefully, making sure every corner was spotless before the event.

    Ella barrió el piso cuidadosamente, asegurándose de que cada rincón estuviera impecable antes del evento.