swirl around

swirl around

1. To move around in a twisting, winding, gyrating motion. Dust swirled around the old shed as we stepped inside. Blood swirled around in the water as it dripped from my hand into the sink.
2. To encircle and move around someone or something in a twisting, winding, gyrating motion. A noun or pronoun can be used between "swirl" and "around." Cold water swirled around my ankles as I stood fishing in the stream. Smoke swirled around the people as they fled the war-stricken village.
3. To spread and circulate among a particular group of people or in response to the actions of a particular person or thing. Fearful uncertainty has been swirling around the population as the government continues to threaten its secession from the trade union. Scandal continue to swirl around the disgraced movie producer as more and more people come forward to allege abuse and mistreatment.
See also: around, swirl
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

swirl around

[for dust or a fluid] to circle around. The liquid swirled around in the flask as Toby shook it up. Dust swirled around the room in the sunlight.
See also: around, swirl
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

swirl around

v.
1. To move with a twisting or whirling motion; eddy: It's hard to fly a kite when the wind swirls around like this.
2. To move around something with a twisting or whirling motion, as in an eddy: As I stood in the river, the water swirled around my legs. The snow swirled around us.
3. To apply something in swirls over some area: The baker swirled the icing around the cake. I swirled syrup around the pancakes.
4. To circulate among some group of people in response to a particular subject: Rumors swirled around Hollywood.
5. To circulate or occur in response to something or someone that is controversial, provocative, or secretive: Rumors swirled around the governor. Controversy swirled around the new budget.
See also: around, swirl
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • find way around
  • bomb around
  • go around and around
  • get (someone) around the table
  • get around the table
  • around (one's) ears
  • gaze around
  • dart around
  • gaze around at (someone or something)
  • feel around
References in periodicals archive
The Argentine striker has been the subject of claims that he is unhappy at the Etihad, with rumours continuing to swirl around his future and increasing speculation about a bid for Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez.
NO-GO AGUERO; STRIKER DENIES RIFT WITH MANAGER AND WANTS TO SEE OUT CONTRACT AT BLUES FULL STORY ON PAGE 62
However, her management firm, GR Media, is now tweeting about the attention starting to swirl around Vissa.
J.Lo's toyboy Casper Smart in hot water over sexting transgendered escort
Camilla, who was given the title Mother of the Children, seemed overwhelmed at times by the deafening chanting and jumping by the Maasai warriors, which caused dust to swirl around the royals.
Charles is named as Helper of the Cows
The snowflakes hurry in the breeze And swirl around the rustling trees, And hurtle to the ground.
Poets' corner
Swirl around with the lid on and leave for five minutes.
Domestic goddess says.
Speculation continues to swirl around the fate of Birmingham pub company Mitchells & Butlers, which is up for sale after a disastrous property venture and interest rate hedging bet.
Buyers are circling cash-strapped M&B; LEISURE
In a typical premixer, internal baffles force a dilute blend of fuel in air to swirl around and mix thoroughly before being ignited.
Hot prospect: simple burner keeps pollution counts down
From possible exaggerated benefits to the realities involved, CLONING is especially important considering the constant controversies which swirl around the issue.
Thomson-Gale
Rumors are bound to swirl around any release that gets pushed back so extensively, but Levy just laughs it off.
'The Pink Panther,' Shawn Levy: Feb. 10, 2006
The sentences swirl around the clouds and angels, suggesting an element of movement.
Spinelli, Eileen: What do Angels Wear?
The garden's most dramatic feature is what Pietras-Dominski calls a "double Archimedes' spiral," with two paths that swirl around a rock border accented with ornamental alliums.
Garden in the round: a spiral labyrinth organizes this planting in Pacifica
Dazzelites[TM] Light-Up Pen features a see-through barrel filled with glitter and tiny stars that swirl around in a lava-like liquid when the pen is rotated up and down.
Dazzelites Light-Up Pen
When the pan is hot, add a tablespoon olive oil to the pan and swirl around.
Recipe Open Omelette
They heave and swell, their scalloped edges undulating in a powerful swirl around the massive bird.
North American birds and West Nile virus
A writing instrument for everyday or special occasions, the Dazzelites Light-Up Pen features a see-through barrel filled with glitter and tiny stars that swirl around in a lava-like liquid when the pen is rotated up and down.
Staedtler