suck the mop
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Sources & notes
Listed in Wiktionary’s “English idioms” category (retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review.
Sense 2
to be the victim of an omnibus nursing exploit. When an omnibus is being nursed, the driver of the hindmost vehicle keeps so close to his opponent that the horses get their heads almost into the doorway. The nursed omnibus is then said to SUCK THE MOP. Nursing is, thanks to tramways and the Metropolis Streets Act, almost a thing of the past. At the East-end, however, it still goes merrily on.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “suck the mop” mean?
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Is “suck the mop” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.