Definition

1. Verb:
   • To remove something by wiping: To clean or eliminate a substance from a surface by rubbing it with a cloth, hand, or other material.
   • To erase or eliminate completely: To cause something to disappear or be removed, as if by wiping.

Usage

The verb "wipe off" is a phrasal verb. It is transitive and requires a direct object (the thing being removed). It is often followed by the surface (e.g., "wipe it off the table") or the substance can be the direct object (e.g., "wipe off the dust"). It describes a deliberate cleaning or removal action.

Examples

• Literal Cleaning:
  • She used a damp cloth to wipe off the mud from her boots.
  • Can you wipe the fingerprints off the glass door?
• Figurative Removal:
  • The company's scandal wiped off millions from its stock market value.
  • He tried to wipe the embarrassing memory off his mind.

Advanced Usage

• "to wipe [something] off the face of the earth/map": To destroy or eliminate something completely.
  • The new policy threatened to wipe the small businesses off the map.
• "to wipe the smile/grin off someone's face": To cause someone to stop being smug or happy.
  • The sudden bad news wiped the smile off his face.

Variants and Related Words

• Wipe (verb): The base form, meaning to clean or dry a surface by rubbing.
  • Wipe the counter with this sponge.
• Wipeout (noun): A complete failure or destruction, or a fall in surfing.
  • The company experienced a total financial wipeout.
• Wiper (noun): A device, like on a car windshield, that wipes.
  • Turn on your windshield wipers.

Synonyms

• Erase: To remove written or drawn marks.
• Clean off: To make a surface clean by removing dirt.
• Remove: To take something away from a position.
• Rub out: To remove marks by rubbing.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Wipe away: Very similar to "wipe off," often used for tears or liquids.
  • She wiped away her tears.
• Wipe down: To clean the entire surface of something.
  • Please wipe down the kitchen counters.
• Wipe up: To absorb and remove a liquid that has been spilled.
  • Use this towel to wipe up the spilled milk.

Related Idioms

• A clean slate/wipe the slate clean: To forget past mistakes and start again.
  • After the argument, they decided to wipe the slate clean.

Verb

1. remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing
   • Please erase the formula on the blackboard--it is wrong!
2. remove by wiping