sweep away
Related to sweep away: lined up
sweep away
1. Literally, to brush, push, or carry someone or something away. A noun or pronoun can be used between "sweep" and "away." The giant wave swept the entire road away. The hurricane's winds were so strong that they swept away entire buildings. He swept the papers away in anger.
2. To eliminate or dispose of someone or something quickly and decisively. A noun or pronoun can be used between "sweep" and "away." The returning champions have so far swept away every competitor with ease. The fracture in my leg swept my dreams of competing in the Olympics away in an instant.
See also: away, sweep
swept away
Awed or overwhelmed, typically in a positive way. We were simply swept away by the spectacle of the Grand Canyon, and ended up staying at the park much longer than we had planned.
See also: away, swept
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
sweep someone or something away
to dispose of someone or something by pushing or brushing away. The waves nearly swept us away. The waves caused by the storm swept away all the debris on the beach.
See also: away, sweep
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
sweep away
v.
1. To cause someone or something to be carried away by or as if by a current: The storm swept away the dock. The tornado swept the barn away. I was so swept away by the music that I forgot where I was for a moment.
2. To eliminate something all at once: The accident swept away all my dreams. When the school rejected my admissions application, I felt like they had swept all my hard work away in a matter of seconds.
See also: away, sweep
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- bury away
- bear away
- boring
- borne
- bring away
- blaze away
- blaze away at (someone or something)
- chew away
- bat away
- chuck away