swing

I UK [swɪŋ] / US verb
Word forms "swing":
present tense I/you/we/they swing he/she/it swings present participle swinging past tense swung UK [swʌŋ] / US past participle swung
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1)

a) [intransitive/transitive] to move, or to make something move, backwards and forwards or from one side to another, especially from a fixed point

Swing your arms loosely at your sides.

The rope bridge was swinging in the breeze.

swing to and fro:

A restaurant sign swung to and fro in the wind.

swing back and forth:

As she shook her head, her earrings swung back and forth.

b) [intransitive] to move backwards and forwards on a seat called a swing

2) [intransitive/transitive] to move in a particular direction with a smooth curving movement, or to make something move in this way

swing at/towards/around/into etc:

Brown swung the ball towards the near post.

swing something into/around/out etc:

I swung the car into a narrow side street.

swing towards/round etc:

She swung round and stared angrily at us.

swing open/shut:

The door swung shut with a loud bang.

3) [intransitive/transitive] to try to hit someone or something by making a smooth curving movement with your hand, a weapon, or a piece of sports equipment

swing something at something/someone:

He swung the bat wildly at the ball, missing it completely.

swing at:

Mrs Shaw swung at the youth with her umbrella.

4) [intransitive/transitive] to change from one emotion, condition, idea etc to another, or to make someone or something change in this way

She should be able to swing a significant number of women's votes.

swing something away from someone/something:

This latest scandal could swing popular support away from them.

swing from:

My mother's moods swing from depression to elation.

swing the other way:

Public opinion has begun to swing the other way (= away from what it was before).

5) [intransitive] informal old-fashioned to be lively, exciting, and enjoyable

6) [intransitive] if music swings, it has a strong pleasant beat

•

- I'll swing for someone

- swing the balance

- swing both ways

- swing into action

- swing it

Phrasal verbs:

- swing by

- swing through

See:

room I

II UK [swɪŋ] / US noun
Word forms "swing":
singular swing plural swings
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1)

a) [countable] an attempt to hit someone or something by making a smooth curving movement with your hand, a weapon, or a piece of sports equipment

b) a smooth curving movement that you make when you hit the ball with a club in golf

He spends hours practising his swing.

2) [countable] a change from one emotion, idea, condition etc to another

He suffers from severe mood swings.

swing to:

There has been a significant 15 per cent swing to Labour.

swing away from:

a swing away from traditional ideas of family life

3) [countable] a seat hanging from chains or ropes that moves backwards and forwards and is used especially by children

Do you want to have a go on the swing?

4) [uncountable] music a type of jazz dance music that was popular in the 1930s and 1940s, played by large groups of musicians and combining simple tunes with more complicated improvisation

5) [singular] American a quick journey through an area in which you make short visits to several places

swing through:

The President is making a five-day swing through the region.

•

get into the swing (of something) — informal to become used to a new situation and to feel confident that you can deal with it

I've been here a week, and I'm only just beginning to get into the swing of things.

- go with a swing

- in full swing

- swings and roundabouts