swoop
[ swoop ]
/ swup /
verb (used without object)
to sweep through the air, as a bird or a bat, especially down upon prey.
to come down upon something in a sudden, swift attack (often followed by down and on or upon): The army swooped down on the town.
verb (used with object)
to take, lift, scoop up, or remove with or as with one sweeping motion (often followed by up, away, or off): He swooped her up in his arms.
noun
an act or instance of swooping; a sudden, swift descent.
Idioms for swoop
at/in one fell swoop,
all at once or all together, as if by one blow: The quake flattened the houses at one fell swoop.
Origin of swoop
1535–45; variant (with close
ō) of Middle English
swopen, Old English
swāpan to
sweep1; cognate with German
schweifen
Words nearby swoop
British Dictionary definitions for at one fell swoop
swoop
/ (swuːp) /
verb
(intr; usually foll by down, on, or upon)
to sweep or pounce suddenly
(tr; often foll by up, away, or off)
to seize or scoop suddenly
noun
the act of swooping
a swift descent
Word Origin for swoop
Old English
swāpan to sweep; related to Old High German
sweifan to swing around, Old Norse
sveipa to throw
Idioms and Phrases with at one fell swoop (1 of 2)
at one fell swoop
see one fell swoop.
Idioms and Phrases with at one fell swoop (2 of 2)
swoop
see one fell swoop.