- swing
- {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun1 change in public opinion, sb's mood, etc.ADJECTIVE▪ big, dramatic, huge, sharp, violent, wide (esp. AmE)▪
violent swings in policy
▪ small▪ 10%, etc.▪ sudden, wild▪his sudden swings of mood
▪ electoral, national (esp. BrE)▪ mood▪She suffers from severe mood swings.
VERB + SWING▪ need▪The party needs a swing of only 2.5% to win.
▪ represent▪This represents a swing of 14% against the party.
▪ suffer, suffer fromSWING + NOUN▪ state, vote, voter (all esp. AmE)▪Ohio is a swing state in the presidential election.
PREPOSITION▪ swing in favour of (BrE), swing to, swing towards/toward▪signs of a late swing to the Democrats
▪ swing against▪a dramatic swing against the socialists
▪ swing away from▪the swing away from science in schools
▪ swing from▪ swing in▪a sharp swing in the attitudes of economists
2 swinging movementADJECTIVE▪ wild▪ mighty (esp. AmE), powerful▪ backward, forward▪ golf▪ practiceVERB + SWING▪ do, make, take▪the technique for making the perfect golf swing
▪ change▪ practise/practice▪The golfers were practising/practicing their swings.
SWING + NOUN▪ bridge, door (both BrE)PREPOSITION▪ swing at▪He took a wild swing at the ball.
▪ swing of▪There was a political swing of the pendulum back to the right. (figurative)
3 swinging seatADJECTIVE▪ porch, tyre/tire (both esp. AmE)VERB + SWING▪ go on, play on, sit on▪Some kids were playing on the swings.
PREPOSITION▪ on a/the swing▪{{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}}Her dad pushed her on the swing.
verb1 move backwards and forwards/from side to sideADVERB▪ gently, slowly▪ violently, wildly▪She lashed out, her arm swinging wildly.
▪ freely▪Let your arms swing freely at your sides.
▪ back and forth, from side to side, to and fro▪The pendulum swung slowly from side to side.
PREPOSITION▪ from▪I could see him swinging from the branch of a large tree.
2 move smoothlyADVERB▪ slowly▪ suddenly▪ sharply▪The road swung sharply around.
▪ across, around, away, back, down, forward, off, round (esp. BrE), up▪Hearing a sarcastic note in his voice, she swung around to face him.
VERB + SWING▪ let sth▪She let the door swing shut behind her.
PREPOSITION▪ from▪She swung down from the tree in one easy movement.
▪ into▪He swung up into the saddle and rode off.
▪ towards/toward▪Nick swung towards/toward her.
PHRASES▪ swing open, swing shut3 change quicklyADVERB▪ rapidly▪ suddenly▪ wildly▪The balance of power swung wildly from one party to the other.
▪ heavily▪Opinion swung heavily to the left.
PREPOSITION▪ from, to▪Her mood could swing rapidly from gloom to exhilaration.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
