(~s, ~ing, swung)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
If something ~s or if you ~ it, it moves repeatedly backwards and forwards or from side to side from a fixed point.
The sail of the little boat swung crazily from one side to the other...
She was ~ing a bottle of wine by its neck...
Ian lit a cigarette and sat on the end of the table, one leg ~ing.
VERB: V adv/prep, V n, V-ing
•
Swing is also a noun.
...a woman in a tight red dress, walking with a slight ~ to her hips.
N-COUNT: usu with supp
2.
If something ~s in a particular direction or if you ~ it in that direction, it moves in that direction with a smooth, curving movement.
The torchlight swung across the little beach and out over the water, searching...
The canoe found the current and swung around...
Roy swung his legs carefully off the couch and sat up.
VERB: V prep/adv, V prep/adv, V n prep/adv
•
Swing is also a noun.
When he’s not on the tennis court, you’ll find him practising his golf ~.
N-COUNT
3.
If a vehicle ~s in a particular direction, or if the driver ~s it in a particular direction, they turn suddenly in that direction.
Joanna swung back on to the main approach and headed for the airport...
The tyres dug into the grit as he swung the car off the road.
VERB: V adv/prep, V n prep/adv
4.
If someone ~s around, they turn around quickly, usually because they are surprised.
She swung around to him, spilling her tea without noticing it.
VERB: V adv
5.
If you ~ at a person or thing, you try to hit them with your arm or with something that you are holding.
Blanche swung at her but she moved her head back and Blanche missed...
I picked up his baseball bat and swung at the man’s head.
VERB: V at n, V at n
•
Swing is also a noun.
I often want to take a ~ at someone to relieve my feelings.
= swipe
N-COUNT
6.
A ~ is a seat hanging by two ropes or chains from a metal frame or from the branch of a tree. You can sit on the seat and move forwards and backwards through the air.
N-COUNT
7.
Swing is a style of jazz dance music that was popular in the 1930’s. It was played by big bands.
N-UNCOUNT
8.
A ~ in people’s opinions, attitudes, or feelings is a change in them, especially a sudden or big change.
There was a massive twenty per cent ~ away from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats...
Dieters suffer from violent mood ~s.
N-COUNT: usu with supp
9.
If people’s opinions, attitudes, or feelings ~, they change, especially in a sudden or extreme way.
In two years’ time there is a presidential election, and the voters could ~ again...
The mood amongst Tory MPs seems to be ~ing away from their leader.
VERB: V, V adv/prep
10.
If something is in full ~, it is operating fully and is no longer in its early stages.
When we returned, the party was in full ~ and the dance floor was crowded...
PHRASE: v-link PHR
11.
If you get into the ~ of something, you become very involved in it and enjoy what you are doing.
Everyone understood how hard it was to get back into the ~ of things after such a long absence.
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n
12.
If you say that a situation is ~s and roundabouts, you mean that there are as many gains as there are losses. (BRIT)
PHRASE
13.
no room to ~ a cat: see cat