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Difference between Put something on the map and Wipe something off the map

put something on the map —(of a town, etc.) cause to be considered important; put into public notice:

  • It was Princess Amelia who helped put the place on the map by taking a holiday here in 1797.

wipe something off the map—(of a town, etc.) completely destroy:

  • A devastating flood several years ago nearly wiped the village off the map.

Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase wipe something off the slate—agree to forget smth. such as smb.’s debt, misdemeanor, etc.:

  • The fact that the Japanese commercial whaling interests have had a role in this affair, cannot simply be wiped off the slate.