Definition & Meaning of "wipe somebody or something off the map"

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.