cut a (wide) swath

1. to cause a lot of destruction, death, or harm in a particular place.

Violent thunderstorms cut a swath of destruction through the area, blowing down trees and damaging houses.

2. to attract a lot of interest or attention.

The two beautiful sisters cut a wide swath through our little town, and every male wanted to take them out.

The new game is unusually inventive and has cut a wide swath in the video game market.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of swath (= a line or strip of grass that has been cut)

• hold back from
• hold back from doing something
• hold breath
• hold court
• hold down
• hold down something
• hold end up
• hold feet to the fire
• hold fire
• hold forth
• hold good
• hold ground
• hold hand
• hold head high
• hold head up high
• hold horses
• Hold horses!
• hold in check
• hold it
• hold its own
• hold off
• hold off something
• hold on
• hold on for dear life
• hold on like grim death