swing1 verbswing2 noun
swingswing1 /swɪŋ/ ●●● W3 verb (past tense and past participle swung /swʌŋ/) 
WORD ORIGINswing1
Origin:
Old English swingan ‘to beat, go quickly’VERB TABLE
swing
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | swing |
| he, she, it | swings | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | swung |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have swung |
| he, she, it | has swung | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had swung |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will swing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have swung |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am swinging |
| he, she, it | is swinging | |
| you, we, they | are swinging | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was swinging |
| you, we, they | were swinging | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been swinging |
| he, she, it | has been swinging | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been swinging |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be swinging |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been swinging |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A lantern swung from a hook in the roof.
- A small jewelled cross swung from a gold chain around her neck.
- As you swing the golf club back, try to keep your eye on the ball.
- Bennett kicked a leg out, then swung a fist that didn't make contact.
- Do you swing?
- Doors swung open and then shut as hospital porters pushed a patient down the corridor.
- His opinions would often swing from one extreme to the other.
- She swung the ax, hitting the log squarely in the middle.
- The car swung north towards the Arizona mountains.
- The door swung open slowly.
- The driver swung the Cadillac off the road with a squeal of tires.
- The only sound was the creak of a sign swinging in the wind.
- The speedometer needle swung wildly back and forth.
- The wooden bridge swung from side to side in a terrifying fashion.
- We began the workout by swinging our arms.
- We used to have contests to see who could swing the highest.
- But as his hand grasped her arm, she recognised defeat, and, halting, she swung around.
- Daak was moving again now, swinging wildly from side to side in an attempt to avoid the lasers' targeting.
- Fortunately, the pendulum appears finally to be swinging the other way.
- I waited out at the end of the seaplane dock and swung aboard his sailboat as it drifted into the dock.
- Instinctively he swung the wheel and the truck hit the car.
- The door of a garden shed had swung open.
- When the car started to swing around again, I made myself steer in the direction of the skid.
Longman Language Activatorwhen something hangs down
· He stood very still, his arms hanging loosely, his feet apart.hang from · In the corner of the room was a large lamp, hanging from the ceiling.· The watch was on a gold chain that hung from his belt.hang down · Hold one end of the rope in your hand and let the other end hang down.hang on/under/next to etc · The keys are hanging on a nail by the door.· A picture of their parents hangs over the bedroom door.
to hang loosely, moving slightly from side to side: dangle from: · Dangling from her ears were two large gold earrings.· He dangled helplessly from the cliff, trying not to look down.dangle in/over/next to etc: · We sat on the edge of the pool with our legs dangling in the water.
to be hanging from a high position: be suspended by: · A row of hares were suspended by their feet outside the butcher's shop.be suspended from: · All sorts of artefacts were suspended from the ceiling.
to move from side to side while hanging from a higher position, or to make something do this: swing from: · A lantern swung from a hook in the roof.· A small jewelled cross swung from a gold chain around her neck.
to move something from one place or position to another to take something to a different place or change the position of something: · Will you move your car, please? It's blocking the road.· It took three men to move the piano.move something to/into something: · We'll have to move the table into the hall.
to move something and put it in a different place or container: · Transfer the mixture to a heavy cooking pan and add all remaining ingredients.transfer something (from something) to something: · Could I transfer $500 from my savings to my checking account?
British informal to move something from where it is: · When are you going to shift all this rubbish? It's making the place look a real mess.· Come on Des, give me a hand to shift these and then we can go home.
to move something quickly through the air with a long circular movement: · She swung the ax, hitting the log squarely in the middle.swing something back/over/across etc: · As you swing the golf club back, try to keep your eye on the ball.
to move something with a short, very sudden movement: jerk something away/towards/up etc: · Mark jerked the phone away from the girl.· Graham had to jerk the steering wheel to the left to avoid a crash.
to move from side to side to move slowly from one side to the other, especially in an irregular or uncontrolled way: · A light wind was making the branches sway.· Donny swayed drunkenly as he walked back to his car.sway from side to side: · The ski lifts were swaying alarmingly from side to side.
to move repeatedly from one side to another, with small gentle movements, or to make something do this: · Waves from a passing freighter rocked their boat.rock back and forth: · The chair squeaked as I rocked back and forth.· Uncle Maury laughed until he was rocking back and forth. rock from side to side: · Glenda sat beside the cradle, gently rocking it from side to side.
to move from side to side with long, usually regular movements: · We began the workout by swinging our arms.· The only sound was the creak of a sign swinging in the wind.swing shut/open: · Doors swung open and then shut as hospital porters pushed a patient down the corridor.swing from side to side: · The wooden bridge swung from side to side in a terrifying fashion.
to turn your head or your body to turn your head or body so that you are looking in a different direction: · Campbell turned and walked out of the room.turn to: · "What do you think we should do?" she said, turning to her husband.turn to do something: · She heard the door opening and turned to see who was coming in.
also turn round British to turn your body so that you are looking in the opposite direction: · Ian, turn round and face the front!· I turned around quickly to see if anyone was following me.· "Does my dress look OK?" "Turn around and let me see the back."
to turn so that you are no longer facing someone, especially because you want to avoid them: · Alice turned away with tears in her eyes.· The scene was so sickening I had to turn away.turn away from: · She frowned and turned away from him without speaking.
to turn so that you are no longer facing someone, especially because you are angry or disappointed, or because you are deliberately ignoring them: · As soon as I turn my back, the children start to misbehave.turn your back on: · Don't turn your back on me - I'm talking to you!· She turned her back on him and began to walk away.
to turn your head in order to look at someone or in order to look away from someone: · She turned her head to avoid making eye contact with the beggar.· Whenever Suzie walks into a room all the men immediately turn their heads.
to quickly and suddenly turn, especially before walking away: · David angrily turned on his heel and marched towards the door.· When her ex-husband entered the room, she turned on her heel and left.
also swing round British to turn around suddenly and quickly, especially because you are angry or surprised: · He swung around at the sound of her voice and smiled at her.· I felt a hand on my shoulder and swung round quickly to find Chris standing behind me.
also spin round British to turn around very quickly, especially because you are angry or because something unexpected has suddenly happened: · The sudden crash made her spin round and look back down the passage.· Dobbs yelled back and spun around with clenched fists, ready to fight.
to turn around quickly as if you are fixed to a central point, or when you are sitting in a chair which can turn round: · Ralph swivelled in his chair and looked directly at Meg.swivel aroundalso + round British: · Mr Tench swivelled round in astonishment as the men burst through his office door.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
He was swinging his bag back and forth. She swung her legs from side to side. The heavy door swung shut. His mood could swing from joy to despair. Do campaign gifts swing votes? The war had begun to swing in Britain’s favor. We managed to swing it so that they will travel together.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The gates swung silently open. After several years of Republican government, the pendulum will undoubtedly swing back and voters will elect a Democrat.
He was swinging his bag back and forth. She swung her legs from side to side. The heavy door swung shut. His mood could swing from joy to despair. Do campaign gifts swing votes? The war had begun to swing in Britain’s favor. (=in politics)
We managed to swing it so that they will travel together. (=suddenly start doing something)· The fire crew immediately swung into action.
British English (=one that can be pulled up for ships to go under)
(=moves forward to open or backwards to shut)· The door swung shut behind me.
(=the way someone moves a golf club when hitting the ball)· Keith's been working on improving his golf swing.
(=changes of mood)· Sudden mood swings can be a sign of mental illness.
The gates swung silently open. (=people at a party are having a good time talking, dancing etc)· At 3 am, the party was still in full swing.
After several years of Republican government, the pendulum will undoubtedly swing back and voters will elect a Democrat.· The gate swung shut behind her.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· But as his hand grasped her arm, she recognised defeat, and, halting, she swung around.· The boat swung around to its new heading.· The snapping jaws missed, but he felt its far as it swung around and scampered away.· Its passengers swing around like boxed chickens in the back of a livestock lorry on a mountain pass.· When the car started to swing around again, I made myself steer in the direction of the skid.· Alarmed, she swung around and lit the candle.· Our robes billowed as we swung around.
· Prentice swung away and lurched towards the door.· I took out my key but the door swung away from me into the depths of the room.· Unable to bear any more, she swung away to stumble over the ploughed field.· And the hospital can swing away, since in a hearing it has absolute protection from libel.· The dead is sitting up! and swung away.
· Thus the pendulum of public pressure swings back and forth, reflecting the unresolved tensions within public policy.· Conroy said he believed the pendulum had swung back toward the belief that children should be punished.· In recent years the pendulum has swung back.· Places that seemed wrapped up for one man or the other a couple of weeks ago keep swinging back into play.· The flowers open so much that the petals swing back.· This year, the suburbanites may be swinging back to the Democratic column.· More so now than a few years ago, the pendulum's swinging back.· Public opinion swung back to Truman.
· A similar effect is used in another part with a ball swinging over the screen.· The whistle would go, Whitaker would show us how to swing over the regulator and we would be away.· His girl leaned over him, talking to him, with her long straight hair swinging over his face.· Chimpanzees, on the other hand, usually only cross if the branches are so close that they can swing over.· The rig will swing over the front of the board and try to pull you over.
· She swung round and walked swiftly out of the office.· He swings round dizzily and heads for the streets, feeling as if he may fly.· The Audi followed, spinning slightly on the wet road, the back end swinging round as the driver revved too hard.· Dropping the wing, Mungo swung round, losing his balance.· Thigh-deep in the loch, Hector swung round.· He swung round and began to walk back to Church Row.· Caught red-handed, her plate piled high, she swung round.· When he swung round she stared at him helplessly, shocked by his appearance.
· Daak was moving again now, swinging wildly from side to side in an attempt to avoid the lasers' targeting.· For in practice, the shift in the focus of monetary policy meant that interest rates would swing wildly.· Through the smoke he saw the balloon dropping, its basket swinging wildly.· Allowing interest rates to swing wildly meant allowing bond prices to swing wildly.· The Test has been delicately poised for four days, with fortunes swinging wildly.· Allowing interest rates to swing wildly meant allowing bond prices to swing wildly.· She lashed out, her arm swinging wildly.· Some ropes had come loose and were swinging wildly in the wind.
NOUN· Let you r arms swing with you.· Five minutes passed and several police cars careened by. long black arms swung threateningly at the parked cars.· It was Ace's hand on her arm that swung her round to meet him, her face full of frightened guilt.· She walked faster, her strong arms swinging her along.· She reached for the fire, intending to pluck a brand, but something grabbed her arm and swung her round.· Room to swing my arms, and swing my mind.· Petey fell back, arms swinging.
· Manager Lennie Lawrence will swing the axe at Swindon and demand 90-minute commitment.· He imagines himself somewhere else, far away from here, walking through the woods and swinging an axe over his shoulder.· No need to swing the axe here, just slot the picks on to the cracks between the welded icicles.· Bowring's control broke, and he swung the axe toward the unbearable sight of the grinning face.· He rides a massive chariot pulled by three wolves, and swings his mighty axe Elf-Biter.· It is the same as swinging an axe to chop down a tree.· I started swinging the axe at the lumps of driftwood.
· Maura stopped in front of them, still swinging her school bag.· The canvas of the swinging bag could be used as number-one sandpaper.· Kate walked away, swinging her bag.
· Felt queasy after, but swung the bat okay and then came back to the hotel, which is small but clean.· I kept swinging the bat, but by now Guy and Carmine had biked out of range and were looking back.· We have the hitter sit on the ball swinging a bat.· Both throw a lot of strikes and both make hitters swing the bat early in the count.
· Diana's golfing history is a lesson to all for she was more or less 40 before swinging a club!· Muskets were swung as clubs, pistols were fired point-blank, and swords flashed and clanged.· The golfer must be in a position to swing the club back.· This from a man who has swung clubs with President Clinton and a half-dozen Hall of Fame golfers.· Framed photographs of Manningham swinging a club decorated the lime green walls.· The best of your countrymen have become good golf robots, outstanding golf robots, all swinging the club the same way.· Turn away, swing the arms and club and then pull the body and legs through.· The guard swung the club backwards once more, striking Nineteen on the arm.
· That frenzied period has passed and, if anything, the pendulum has swung in the other direction.· Let your arms swing in the opposite direction.· This, of course, causes the pendulum to swing in the same direction.· By the 1870s and 1880s, however, the pendulum was swinging in the opposite direction.
· The bags under their eyes reflect the wild mood swings that have afflicted the party since the first week.
· The pendulum has swung from silly dreaming to grinding pragmatism.· The pendulum swung back and the feminine principle experienced five centuries of heavy repression.· Thus the pendulum of public pressure swings back and forth, reflecting the unresolved tensions within public policy.· Conroy said he believed the pendulum had swung back toward the belief that children should be punished.· In recent years the pendulum has swung back.· For death penalty adherents, the pendulum has finally swung their way: California will enforce the death penalty more quickly.· Now the pendulum seems to have swung the other way.
· Wind and height forgotten, Pascoe swung down from the tree like a gymnast.· A fridge I lied about swinging through the trees!· In woodlands they can swing from tree to tree or scramble over the treetops to drop to the forest floor below.· They swing from tree to tree.
· One worker in ten may not be enough to mount powerful strikes; but it is plenty enough to swing a vote.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► there’s not enough room to swing a cat► the swinging sixties
1move from a fixed point [intransitive, transitive] to make regular movements forwards and backwards or from one side to another while hanging from a particular point, or to make something do this: - They sat outside local shopping centers and recorded more than 350 adults as they walked through doors that swung both ways.
- Your mam, you now, she wouldn't believe but that I was swinging the lead all those years.
- All this would have rotted away had the rescue operation not swung into action.
- The doctor examined her, found a faint pulse, and immediately swung into action to resuscitate the patient.
- The first battalion of boffins will swing into action this August.
- The moment the shooting was reported, they swung into action.
- The nights really begin to swing into action with regular party nights in the bar.
- Throughout the region voluntary agencies like the Red Cross are swinging into action.
- When he swings into action on the water, Kerton is one of the fastest men afloat.
- Whenever the laws of any state are broken, a duly authorized organization swings into action.
- Your letter of recommendation swung the balance in his favor.
- Chernobyl had further tipped the balance.
- His influence on deputies is significant, but it will be Mr Yeltsin's performance that will swing the balance.
- Perhaps remorse at having joined it had tipped the balance of Fred's mind.
- Teachers may try to tip the balance about this Englishness.
- The nature of his choice or the terms in which it is expressed may then tip the balance.
- The thought or feeling tipped the balance, made the difference.
- Vigorous efforts were made to tip the balance more in favour of those with greater needs.
- What tipped the balance against that was my continuing dreadful performance in the classroom.
- Barcelona was full of visitors, and preparations for the Olympic Games were in full swing.
- By 10 o'clock the party was in full swing and everyone was dancing.
- The college football season is now in full swing.
- Behind us, the party was in full swing.
- Inaugural activities were in full swing Saturday despite the cold.
- These are the sure signs that green corn tamale season is in full swing.
- They know who loves them, and their career is in full swing.
Let your arms swing as you walk. a sign swinging in the wind He was swinging his bag back and forth. She swung her legs from side to side.swing something by something He marched around, swinging the gun by its handle.2move in a curve [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to move quickly in a smooth curve in one direction, or to make something do this: A black car swung into the drive. Kate swung her legs out of bed.swing open/shut The heavy door swung shut. Swinging her bag over her shoulder, she hurried on.3hit [intransitive, transitive] to move your arm or something you are holding to try and hit somethingswing something at somebody/something She swung her bag at him.swing at somebody/something (with something) Garson swung at the ball and missed. He started swinging at me with his fists.4change opinions/emotions [intransitive, transitive] if emotions or opinions swing, or if something swings them, they change quickly to the opposite of what they wereswing from something to something His mood could swing from joy to despair. Do campaign gifts swing votes? The war had begun to swing in Britain’s favor.swing to the Right/Left (=in politics)5swing into action to suddenly begin work that needs doing, using a lot of energy and effort: Politicians have already swung into action.6play [intransitive] to sit on a swing and make it move backwards and forwards by moving your legs7arrange something [transitive] spoken to arrange for something to happen, although it takes a lot of effort to do this: We managed to swing it so that they will travel together.8swing both ways informal someone who swings both ways is bisexual9swing the lead British English to avoid work by pretending to be ill → there’s not enough room to swing a cat at room1(5)swing around/round phrasal verb to turn around quickly, or to make something do this: She swung around to face him.swing something/somebody ↔ around/round He swung the boat around and headed for the shore.swing by (something) phrasal verb American English informal to visit a place or person for a short time: I’ll swing by the grocery store on my way.swing1 verbswing2 noun
swingswing2 ●●○ noun EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Ed said he could help me with my swing.
- There has been a huge swing in public opinion on the issue.
- With a heavy swing of the mallet, he drove the post into the ground.
THESAURUS
noun [countable, uncountable] a situation in which someone or something becomes different, or the act of making something different: · There was a sudden change in the weather.· We are living in a period of great change.· He was told to make some slight changes to his essay.
noun [countable, uncountable] a change, especially a small one that happens naturally or gradually, or one that is made in order to improve something: · I noticed a slight alteration in her behaviour.· They had to make some alterations to their original theory.
noun [countable, uncountable] a change made to a system or law in order to improve it: · He called for a reform of our outdated voting system.· Many people opposed the economic reforms.
noun [countable] a change, especially in people’s attitudes or in the way they do things, or in the position of someone or something: · a shift in public opinion about the war· There has been a noticeable shift in government policy on education.· There needs to be a major shift away from road transport to rail transport.· After he died, there was a dramatic shift in the balance of power.
a big change, especially in someone’s opinions or moods: · There has been a big swing toward the Democrats (=many more people are supporting them).· The drug can cause mood swings.
noun [countable, uncountable] a change in something – used when something changes often: · fluctuations in the value of the dollar· temperature fluctuations· fluctuations in his mood· There has been some fluctuation in productivity levels.
Longman Language Activatorways of saying that something is happening · She looked out of the window to see what was happening.· Property prices continue to rise and we still don't understand exactly why it's happening.what's happening? · The room began to shake and we stared at each other in terror. "What's happening?'' asked Robert.
if something is going on it is happening, especially if it makes you feel worried or annoyed: · It was obvious from the way they kept looking at each other that there was something going on.what's going on?: · "What's going on at the town hall?'' asked my mother. "There's a huge crowd of people there.''
formal if an arranged event, game, or operation is in progress , it has started and has not finished yet: · By the time we got to the stadium, the match was already in progress.· There must be no noise in the school while examinations are in progress.· An emergency relief operation is already in progress in Southern Sudan.
to be happening now or to be going to happen: · The summer sales are on next week.· People have to learn to economize when there is a war on.· The presidential election was on when we arrived in the States.
if an organized activity or an event such as a party is in full swing , it has already been happening for some time and people are taking part in a very active way: · By 10 o'clock the party was in full swing and everyone was dancing.· Barcelona was full of visitors, and preparations for the Olympic Games were in full swing.
if a plan or a system is in operation , it is being used and is working: · Over 20 training programmes are in operation, with almost 2000 trainees.
WORD SETSbirdie, nounbirdie, verbbogey, nounbogie, nounbogie, verbbunker, nouncaddy, nouncaddy, verbcup, noundriver, nounfairway, noungolf ball, noungolf club, noungolf course, noungolf links, noungreen, nounhole, nounhole, verbiron, nounloft, verbmishit, verbpar, nounpitch, verbpitch-and-putt, nounpull, nounputt, verbputter, nounputting green, nounround, nounrubber, nounsandtrap, nounsink, verbswing, nountee, nountrap, nounwood, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY kids playing on the swings He took a swing at (=tried to hit) my head and missed. She suffers from mood swings. everything you need to make your party go with a swingCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The gates swung silently open. After several years of Republican government, the pendulum will undoubtedly swing back and voters will elect a Democrat.
kids playing on the swings He took a swing at (=tried to hit) my head and missed. She suffers from mood swings. everything you need to make your party go with a swing (=suddenly start doing something)· The fire crew immediately swung into action.
British English (=one that can be pulled up for ships to go under)
(=moves forward to open or backwards to shut)· The door swung shut behind me.
(=the way someone moves a golf club when hitting the ball)· Keith's been working on improving his golf swing.
(=changes of mood)· Sudden mood swings can be a sign of mental illness.
The gates swung silently open. (=people at a party are having a good time talking, dancing etc)· At 3 am, the party was still in full swing.
After several years of Republican government, the pendulum will undoubtedly swing back and voters will elect a Democrat.· The gate swung shut behind her.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Lead experienced the biggest swing, hitting a ten-year high of £800 a tonne in March.· The Easter holiday is the likely culprit for the big swings, though.
· The campaign has already been in full swing for several months, even though it has not officially started.· Behind us, the party was in full swing.· I was on campus when the food riots hit full swing.· These are the sure signs that green corn tamale season is in full swing.· The trouble with playing from this distance, however, is that you do not require a full swing.· Her training regimen, which is now in full swing for Boston, involves a daily run of 5 to 8 miles.· From around 50 yards out you will not need to produce a full swing.· They know who loves them, and their career is in full swing.
· It is possible, for instance, to see in California at this time the beginnings of a national swing to the right.· In 1987, the small 2.5 percent national swing from Conservative to Labour was differentiated between North and South.· In the 1979 and 1983 elections there were examples of locally popular candidates holding their marginal seats against the national swing.· Already, they have contributed to great national mood swings.
NOUN· It was a great walk, with swing bridges across the river, and we never met a soul all day.· Two bascule bridges and one swing bridge further upstream had become totally inadequate.· At the dock's entrance is a cast-iron swing bridge.· It was five minutes to eight when Yanto cycled over the low swing bridge on to the wharfs of Sharpness Docks.· A wrought-iron girder swing bridge at the Northern Entrance Lock may be the original installed by Brunel.· A bloke jumped out of the boat, ran past me, over the swing bridge and opened it up.· The dock's redeeming qualities are the old swing bridges and the boats themselves, many of them beautiful old sailing ships.
· The door swings open to reveal an empty top shelf.· The door swings shut, and they are locked for ever in their chosen cell.
· His mood swings are generally only related to the latest project he's working on.· Loi was well on his way down into the depths of a mood swing.· They caused me to have terrible mood swings and it put my relationship with Stuart under a lot of strain.· The mood swing was worrying, but at least it was an upbeat beginning to the day.· It was the beginning of a frustrating period for Hunt and his mood swings were on the downturn.· It gives you enormous mood swings, which nobody told me about.· Pat Jerrom says Danniella had violent mood swings and threatened to commit suicide.· A woman who is not ovulating escapes the sharp changes in hormone levels that can lead to mood swings.
· Pinochet and who hold the swing vote in the upper house.· Justice Sandra Day O'Connor provided the key swing vote in both cases.
· Within this group, 40 % are identified as swing voters.· Clinton hammered away at campaign themes tailor-made to appeal to predominantly white swing voters who might otherwise vote for Republican Bob Dole.· They are the classic swing voters.
VERB· She could hear her three- year-old son Rufus laughing as he played on the swings nearby.· You are playing on the swing.· This groove is played with a swing eighth note feel - great line, great track, great album.
· He had a majority of 13,783, which would take an 18 % swing to shift.· He was an animal child, ten years old, he stood up to the plate and took fluid practice swings.· Since that lunch everything had taken an upward swing.· He slapped her on the side of the head and she took half a swing at him.· He takes a practice swing, sets himself again, looks at the target - and what happens?· Sooner or later the President will take a swing through Florida.· I must admit I admired the way he didn't even flinch when Richie took his first swing of the day.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► there’s not enough room to swing a cat► the swinging sixties
1- In the evening, after the first stiffness wore off and charades were introduced, the party went with a swing.
- Now he was in an excellent mood and the party began to go with a swing.
- A case of swings and roundabouts perhaps?
- But life with Thomas isn't just a merry-go-round it can be swings and roundabouts.
- In recreation grounds the patches of well-worn grass close to the swings and roundabouts will hold the most money.
- It is a long way from swings and roundabouts.
- It is a psephologist's handbook, a guide to swings and roundabouts and a heckler's compendium.
- The advantages of a small company over a large one is a matter of swings and roundabouts.
- As the afternoon wears on, Paul Merton gets into the swing of things.
- But once you get into the swing of it, the anatomy takes care of itself.
- In the evening a fun event will be held to get into the swing of things.
- Behind us, the party was in full swing.
- Inaugural activities were in full swing Saturday despite the cold.
- These are the sure signs that green corn tamale season is in full swing.
- They know who loves them, and their career is in full swing.
- Your letter of recommendation swung the balance in his favor.
- Chernobyl had further tipped the balance.
- His influence on deputies is significant, but it will be Mr Yeltsin's performance that will swing the balance.
- Perhaps remorse at having joined it had tipped the balance of Fred's mind.
- Teachers may try to tip the balance about this Englishness.
- The nature of his choice or the terms in which it is expressed may then tip the balance.
- The thought or feeling tipped the balance, made the difference.
- Vigorous efforts were made to tip the balance more in favour of those with greater needs.
- What tipped the balance against that was my continuing dreadful performance in the classroom.
- Barcelona was full of visitors, and preparations for the Olympic Games were in full swing.
- By 10 o'clock the party was in full swing and everyone was dancing.
- The college football season is now in full swing.
- Behind us, the party was in full swing.
- Inaugural activities were in full swing Saturday despite the cold.
- These are the sure signs that green corn tamale season is in full swing.
- They know who loves them, and their career is in full swing.
seat with ropes [countable] a seat hanging from ropes or chains, usually used by children to play on by moving it forwards and backwards using their legs: kids playing on the swings a porch swing2movement [countable] a curved movement made with your arm, leg etc: He took a swing at (=tried to hit) my head and missed. the swing of her hips as she walked3change [countable] a noticeable change in opinions or emotionsswing to/towards/between etc a big swing towards right-wing ideology She suffers from mood swings.4sports [singular] the movement you make when you hit the ball in golf, baseball, or some other sports: I spent months correcting my swing.5music [uncountable] a type of dance music played by a big band in the 1930s and 1940s that is similar to jazz6get into the swing of it/things to become fully involved in an activity: Once we got into the swing of it, it took no time at all.7be in full swing if an event or process is in full swing, it has reached its highest level of activity: By midnight, the end-of-course party was in full swing.8go with a swing British English if a party or activity goes with a swing, it is enjoyable and successful: everything you need to make your party go with a swing9swings and roundabouts British English used to say that two choices have an equal number of gains and losses, so there is little difference between them