/ swɪŋ; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
( swung , swung / swʌŋ; NAmE /)
HANG AND MOVE
1.
to move backwards or forwards or from side to side while hanging from a fixed point; to make sth do this :
[ v ]
His arms swung as he walked.
A set of keys swung from her belt.
As he pushed her, she swung higher and higher (= while sitting on a swing) .
[ vn ]
He sat on the stool, swinging his legs.
2.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to move from one place to another by holding sth that is fixed and pulling yourself along, up, etc. :
[ vn ]
He swung himself out of the car.
[ v ]
The gunshot sent monkeys swinging away through the trees.
MOVE IN CURVE
3.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to move or make sth move with a wide curved movement :
[ v ]
A line of cars swung out of the palace gates.
[ vn ]
He swung his legs over the side of the bed.
[ v - adj , vn - adj ]
The door swung open.
She swung the door open.
TURN QUICKLY
4.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to turn or change direction suddenly; to make sth do this :
[ v ]
The bus swung sharply to the left.
[ vn ]
He swung the camera around to face the opposite direction.
TRY TO HIT
5.
swing (sth) (at sb/sth) to try to hit sb/sth :
[ v ]
She swung at me with the iron bar.
[ vn ]
He swung another punch in my direction.
CHANGE OPINION / MOOD
6.
swing (from A) (to B) | swing (between A and B) to change or make sb/sth change from one opinion, mood, etc. to another :
[ v ]
The state has swung from Republican to Democrat.
His emotions swung between fear and curiosity.
The game could swing either way (= either side could win it) .
[ vn ]
I managed to swing them round to my point of view.
DO / GET STH
7.
( informal ) to succeed in getting or achieving sth, sometimes in a slightly dishonest way :
[ vn ]
We're trying to swing it so that we can travel on the same flight.
[ vnn ]
Is there any chance of you swinging us a couple of tickets?
OF MUSIC
8.
[ v ] to have a strong rhythm
OF PARTY
9.
[ v ] ( informal ) if a party, etc. is swinging , there are a lot of people there having a good time
•
IDIOMS
- swing the balance
- swing both ways
- swing into action
- swing the lead
—more at room noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- swing by | swing by sth
■ noun
MOVEMENT
1.
[ C ] a swinging movement or rhythm :
He took a wild swing at the ball.
the swing of her hips
OF OPINION / MOOD
2.
[ C ] a change from one opinion or situation to another; the amount by which sth changes :
He is liable to abrupt mood swings (= for example from being very happy to being very sad) .
Voting showed a 10% swing to Labour.
HANGING SEAT
3.
[ C ] a seat for swinging on, hung from above on ropes or chains :
The kids were playing on the swings.
—picture at house
IN GOLF
4.
[ sing. ] the swinging movement you make with your arms and body when you hit the ball in the game of golf :
I need to work on my swing.
MUSIC
5.
[ U ] a type of jazz with a smooth rhythm, played especially by big dance bands in the 1930s
JOURNEY
6.
[ sing. ] ( NAmE ) a quick journey, especially one made by a politician, in which sb visits several different places in a short time :
a three-day campaign swing through California
•
IDIOMS
- get in / into the swing (of sth)
- go with a swing
- in full swing
- swings and roundabouts
For more information see the Cultural Guide
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English swingan to beat, whip , also rush , geswing a stroke with a weapon , of Germanic origin; related to German schwingen brandish.