sweep

sweep1 [ swip ] (past tense and past participle swept [ swept ] ) verb **

▸ 1 clean with long brush

▸ 2 move/spread quickly

▸ 3 look at/search

▸ 4 stretch over large area

▸ 5 win easily

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) intransitive or transitive to clean a floor, the ground, or another surface using a BROOM (=brush with a long handle):

After you've swept, you can wash the dishes.

Her work consisted mainly of making coffee and sweeping the floor.

I want you to sweep up the garage.

a ) transitive to clean something such as a CHIMNEY with a long brush:

Little children used to be used to sweep chimneys.

2. ) intransitive or transitive to move or spread quickly through an area:

Youngsters are risking their lives in a dangerous craze which is sweeping the country.

sweep across: The hurricane swept across the Gulf of California.

sweep through: Fire swept through the building.

Disease has swept through this remote city.

a ) transitive to move something or someone with powerful force:

The flood waters swept the car downstream.

He was swept along the street by dozens of supporters.

b ) transitive to move or carry something or someone away with a quick smooth movement:

He swept his son into his arms.

c ) intransitive sweep into/past/by etc. to go somewhere quickly and confidently:

She swept into the office and announced she could only stay ten minutes.

d ) intransitive sweep past/through/along etc. to move quickly and smoothly without stopping for anyone or anything:

The limousine carrying the ambassador swept through the gates.

3. ) intransitive or transitive to look over every part of someone or something in one continuous movement of your eyes:

Her gaze swept the room and she frowned.

As she spoke, her eyes swept over her daughter.

a ) transitive to shine a light in a circular or curved movement over an area, especially in order to search for something

4. ) intransitive to stretch over a large area, especially in a long wide curve:

The scenery was beautiful, with cool green forests sweeping down the hillsides.

5. ) transitive to win something easily

a ) to win all of the games in a series or all of the top places in a competition:

He was the only man to sweep the diving gold medals in two consecutive Olympics.

sweep the board

to win everything:

Last year, Durham swept the board, winning all four team events.

sweep someone off their feet

1. ) to have a strong effect on someone so that they quickly become attracted to you:

He was hoping to sweep her off her feet, but she just laughed.

2. ) to lift someone:

The wind almost swept us off our feet.

sweep to/from power

to win or lose an election by a very large number of votes:

The Party swept to power in elections the following year.

sweep to victory

to easily win a competition or an election:

Johnson swept to victory by one of the largest margins in American history.

sweep something under the carpet or sweep something under the rug

to try to avoid dealing with a problem:

You can't just sweep these issues under the carpet.

,sweep a`side phrasal verb transitive

to ignore someone or something or refuse to consider them:

He swept aside all her objections.

,sweep a`way phrasal verb transitive

1. ) to destroy or completely remove something:

Many people died when floods swept their homes away.

Your reassurances have swept away any doubts I had.

2. ) to become completely involved in a story, situation, your emotions, etc.:

get swept away: I got quite swept away with the spirit of the moment.

,sweep `back phrasal verb transitive

to put your hair into a style that keeps it away from your face:

She swept her hair back into a bun.

,sweep `over phrasal verb transitive

sweep over someone to suddenly affect someone very strongly:

A wave of tiredness swept over her.

,sweep `up phrasal verb intransitive or transitive

to clean and remove dirt, glass, dust, etc. from a floor or the ground using a brush or BROOM:

Would you sweep up the broken glass?

sweep

sweep 2 [ swip ] noun *

▸ 1 long wide curved area

▸ 2 curved movement

▸ 3 range of things

▸ 4 chimney sweep

▸ 5 search of area

▸ 6 in sports

▸ 7 sweepstakes

▸ 8 act of sweeping

1. ) count usually singular a long wide curved area of land or water

2. ) count a long smooth curved movement:

sweep of: He threw the gun aside with a sweep of his arm.

3. ) singular sweep of a range of different things that together form a larger unit:

the broad sweep of history

4. ) count INFORMAL a CHIMNEY SWEEP

5. ) count usually singular a search of an area made by soldiers or police officers

6. ) singular AMERICAN a series of successes in sports, or the achievement of winning all the top places in a competition:

a three-game sweep

7. ) count a SWEEPSTAKES

8. ) singular an act of sweeping something:

She gave the floor a quick sweep.

=> CLEAN1