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

SYNONYMS FOR swoop

4 dive, plunge, sweep, drop.

Words nearby swoop

swollen-headed, swoln, swonk, swonken, swoon, swoop, swoosh, swop, sword, sword bayonet, sword bean

British Dictionary definitions for in 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 in one fell swoop (1 of 2)

in one fell swoop

see one fell swoop.

Idioms and Phrases with in one fell swoop (2 of 2)

swoop

see one fell swoop.