swing

swing¹ W3 [swıŋ] v past tense and past participle swung [swʌŋ]

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1¦(move from a fixed point)¦

2¦(move in a curve)¦

3¦(hit)¦

4¦(change opinions/emotions)¦

5 swing into action

6¦(play)¦

7¦(arrange something)¦

8 swing both ways

9 swing the lead

Phrasal verbs

　swing around/round

　swing by

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[: Old English; Origin: swingan 'to beat, go quickly']

1.) ¦(MOVE FROM A FIXED POINT)¦ [I and T]

to make regular movements forwards and backwards or from one side to another while hanging from a particular point, or to make something do this

▪ Let your arms swing as you walk.

▪ a sign swinging in the wind

▪ He was swinging his bag back and forth .

▪ She swung her legs from side to side .

swing sth by sth

▪ He marched around, swinging the gun by its handle.

2.) ¦(MOVE IN A CURVE)¦ [I,T always + adverb/preposition]

to move quickly in a smooth curve in one direction, or to make something do this

▪ A black car swung into the drive.

▪ Kate swung her legs out of bed.

swing open/shut

▪ The heavy door swung shut.

▪ Swinging her bag over her shoulder, she hurried on.

3.) ¦(HIT)¦ [I and T]

to move your arm or something you are holding to try and hit something

swing sth at sb/sth

▪ She swung her bag at him.

swing at sb/sth (with sth)

▪ Garson swung at the ball and missed.

▪ He started swinging at me with his fists.

4.) ¦(CHANGE OPINIONS/EMOTIONS)¦ [I and T]

if emotions or opinions swing, or if something swings them, they change quickly to the opposite of what they were

swing from sth to sth

▪ His mood could swing from joy to despair.

▪ Do campaign gifts swing votes ?

▪ The war had begun to swing in Britain's favor .

swing to the Right/Left

(=in politics)

5.) swing into action

to suddenly begin work that needs doing, using a lot of energy and effort

▪ Politicians have already swung into action.

6.) ¦(PLAY)¦

to sit on a swing and make it move backwards and forwards by moving your legs

7.) ¦(ARRANGE SOMETHING)¦ [T]

[i]spoken to arrange for something to happen, although it takes a lot of effort to do this

▪ We managed to swing it so that they we'll travel together.

8.) swing both ways informal

someone who swings both ways is ↑bisexual

9.) swing the lead

BrE to avoid work by pretending to be ill

→there's not enough room to swing a cat at ↑room¹ (5)

swing around/round phr v

to turn around quickly, or to make something do this

▪ She swung around to face him.

swing sth/sb<=>around/round

▪ He swung the boat around and headed for the shore.

swing by phr v

swing by (sth)

to visit a place or person for a short time

▪ I'll swing by the grocery store on my way.

swing ²

swing² S3 n

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1¦(seat with ropes)¦

2¦(movement)¦

3¦(change)¦

4¦(sports)¦

5¦(music)¦

6 get into the swing of it/things

7 be in full swing

8 go with a swing

9 swings and roundabouts

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1.) ¦(SEAT WITH ROPES)¦

a seat hanging from ropes or chains, usually used by children play on by moving it forwards and backwards using their legs

▪ kids playing on the swings

▪ a porch swing

2.) ¦(MOVEMENT)¦

a curved movement made with your arm, leg etc

▪ He took a swing at (=tried to hit) my head and missed.

▪ the swing of her hips as she walked

3.) ¦(CHANGE)¦

a noticeable change in opinions or emotions

swing to/towards/between etc

▪ a big swing towards right-wing ideology

▪ She suffers from mood swings .

4.) ¦(SPORTS)¦ [singular]

the movement you make when you hit the ball in ↑golf, baseball, or some other sports

▪ I spent months correcting my swing.

5.) ¦(MUSIC)¦[U]

a type of dance music played by a big band in the 1930s and 1940s that is similar to ↑jazz

6.) get into the swing of it/things

to become fully involved in an activity

▪ Once we got into the swing of it, it took no time at all.

7.) be in full swing

if an event or process is in full swing, it has reached its highest level of activity

▪ By midnight the end-of-course party was in full swing.

8.) go with a swing

BrE if a party or activity goes with a swing, it is enjoyable and successful

▪ everything you need to make your party go with a swing

9.) swings and roundabouts

BrE used to say that two choices have an equal number of gains and losses, so there is little difference between them