"wipe somebody or something off the map"의 정의 및 의미

What is the origin of the idiom "wipe somebody or something off the map" and when to use it?

The idiom "wipe somebody or something off the map" has a dramatic and forceful origin. It is rooted in the imagery of complete destruction or elimination. The phrase is used to imply a complete and devastating removal, as if a location or entity has been entirely erased from existence, much like wiping something off a surface.