Definition of the word wipe out

The expression "wipe out" originated in the world of surfing, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s. Initially, it referred to a specific type of wipe-wipe movement that left an empty swell in its wake, as if a whiteboard had been wiped clean. This surfing term was popularized by Hollywood films and surf culture, and it eventually crossed over into popular culture, acquiring broader interpretations. Today, "wipe out" is used more generally to describe any complete failure or destruction, as if something has been completely erased or eliminated. In surfing, however, the term has evolved to describe a wipeout or fall from a wave, where the surfer fails to make it to shore and gets tossed around like a ragdoll by the water. In this context, it can also refer to the destruction or flattening of the wave, leaving nothing behind. While the term's origins are specific to surfing, its wide-ranging application shows how language evolves and becomes a part of everyday discourse over time.