wipe out(短语动词)主要指彻底消灭、毁灭、清除(人、事物、影响等);也常用来表示使筋疲力尽(较口语)。语境不同含义会有所侧重。
/ˈwaɪp aʊt/
A sudden flood wiped out the village.
一场突如其来的洪水把那个村庄毁了。
The new evidence wiped out any doubt that he was innocent, but the long trial had already wiped him out.
新的证据彻底打消了人们对他清白的怀疑,但漫长的审判早已把他累垮了。
wipe 原意是“擦、抹”,out 有“完全消失、不见”的含义;合在一起字面像是“把某物擦到消失”,引申为“彻底清除、消灭”。后来在口语里进一步引申为“把人弄得精疲力尽”(好像把精力都“擦光”了)。