swing

[[t]swɪ̱ŋ[/t]]

♦♦♦

swings, swinging, swung

1) V-ERG If something swings or if you swing it, it moves repeatedly backwards and forwards or from side to side from a fixed point.

[V adv/prep] The sail of the little boat swung crazily from one side to the other...

[V n] She was swinging a bottle of wine by its neck...

[V-ing] Ian lit a cigarette and sat on the end of the table, one leg swinging.

N-COUNT: usu with supp

Swing is also a noun.

...a woman in a tight red dress, walking with a slight swing to her hips.

2) V-ERG If something swings in a particular direction or if you swing it in that direction, it moves in that direction with a smooth, curving movement.

[V prep/adv] The torchlight swung across the little beach and out over the water, searching...

[V prep/adv] The canoe found the current and swung around...

[V n prep/adv] Roy swung his legs carefully off the couch and sat up.

N-COUNT

Swing is also a noun.

When he's not on the tennis court, you'll find him practising his golf swing.

3) V-ERG If a vehicle swings in a particular direction, or if the driver swings it in a particular direction, they turn suddenly in that direction.

[V adv/prep] Joanna swung back on to the main approach and headed for the airport...

[V n prep/adv] The tyres dug into the grit as he swung the car off the road.

4) VERB If someone swings around, they turn around quickly, usually because they are surprised.

[V adv] She swung around to him, spilling her tea without noticing it.

5) VERB If you swing at a person or thing, you try to hit them with your arm or with something that you are holding.

[V at n] Blanche swung at her but she moved her head back and Blanche missed...

[V at n] I picked up his baseball bat and swung at the man's head. [Also V n at n]

Syn:

swipe

N-COUNT

Swing is also a noun.

I often want to take a swing at someone to relieve my feelings.

6) N-COUNT A swing 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.

7) N-UNCOUNT Swing is a style of jazz dance music that was popular in the 1930's. It was played by big bands.

8) N-COUNT: usu with supp A swing 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 swing away from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats...

Educational practice is liable to sudden swings and changes...

Dieters suffer from violent mood swings.

9) VERB If people's opinions, attitudes, or feelings swing, they change, especially in a sudden or extreme way.

In two years' time there is a presidential election, and the voters could swing again...

[V adv/prep] The mood amongst Tory MPs seems to be swinging away from their leader.

10) N-COUNT: usu N through n If someone such as a politician makes a swing through a particular country or area, they go on a quick trip through it, visiting a number of different places. [AM, JOURNALISM]

...a campaign swing through South Dakota and Texas.

11) PHRASE: v-link PHR If something is in full swing, it is operating fully and is no longer in its early stages.

When we returned, the party was in full swing and the dance floor was crowded...

The international rugby season is in full swing.

Syn:

well under way

12) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n If you get into the swing 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 swing of things after such a long absence.

13) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that something is going with a swing, you mean that it is lively and exciting. [BRIT]

Sara Lewis' impressive recipes are guaranteed to make the party go with a swing.

14) PHRASE If you say that a situation is swings and roundabouts, you mean that there are as many gains as there are losses. [BRIT]

15) no room to swing a cat → see cat