mop something/somebody ↔ up phrasal verb ( see also ↑ mop )
1 . to remove liquid with a mop, a cloth, or something soft, especially in order to clean a surface SYN wipe up :
Mop the sauce up with your bread.
He mopped up the spilt milk.
2 . to remove or deal with something which you think is undesirable or dangerous, so that it is no longer a problem:
The usual solution is to send in infantry to mop up any remaining opposition.
The rebellion has been crushed, but mopping-up operations may take several weeks.