swoop

at one fell swoop

All at once, with a single decisive or powerful action. When the economy crashed, thousands lost their jobs, their homes, and their pensions at one fell swoop.
See also: fell, one, swoop

in one fell swoop

All at once, with a single decisive or powerful action. When the economy crashed, thousands lost their jobs, their homes, and their pensions in one fell swoop.
See also: fell, one, swoop

one fell swoop

A single decisive or powerful action. When the economy crashed, thousands lost their jobs, their homes, and their pensions in one fell swoop. With one fell swoop, the military junta arrested the prime minister, executed its enemies in parliament, and assumed total control of the country.
See also: fell, one, swoop

swoop down

To rush quickly downward in an abrupt sweeping motion. He swooped down and picked up the toddler before she got too close to the steps. I love sitting on the pier, watching the birds swoop down to catch fish.
See also: down, swoop

swoop down on (someone or something)

1. To move down in a sudden plunging sweep to seize or land on someone or something. The falcon swooped down on its trainer's arm. The pelicans hover over the bay, swooping down on fish that venture too close to the surface of the water.
2. To descend on someone or something very quickly and suddenly, as to attack or grasp them or it. The children all swooped down on the pile of candy that fell from the broken piñata. Several police officers swooped down on the suspect.
See also: down, on, swoop
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

at one fell swoop

 and in one fell swoop
Fig. in a single incident; as a single event. (This phrase preserves the old word fell, meaning "terrible" or "deadly.") The party guests ate up all the snacks at one fell swoop. When the stock market crashed, many large fortunes were wiped out in one fell swoop.
See also: fell, one, swoop

swoop down (up)on someone or something

 
1. Lit. to dive or plunge downward on someone or something. The eagle swooped down upon the lamb.
2. Fig. [for someone] to pounce on and consume something. The children swooped down on the ice cream and cake.
See also: down, on, swoop
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

one fell swoop, in

Also at one fell swoop. All at once, in a single action, as in This law has lifted all the controls on cable TV in one fell swoop. This term was used and probably invented by Shakespeare in Macbeth (4:3), where the playwright likens the murder of Macduff's wife and children to a hawk swooping down on defenseless prey. Although fell here means "cruel" or "ruthless," this meaning has been lost in the current idiom, where it now signifies "sudden."
See also: fell, one
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

in (or at) one fell swoop

all in one go.
This expression comes from Macduff's appalled reaction to the murder of his wife and children in Shakespeare's Macbeth: ‘Oh hell-kite!…All my pretty chickens, and their dam At one fell swoop?’
See also: fell, one, swoop
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

at/in one fell ˈswoop

with a single action or movement; all at the same time: Only a foolish politician would promise to lower the rate of inflation and reduce unemployment at one fell swoop.
See also: fell, one, swoop
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

swoop down

v.
To make a rush or an attack with or as if with a sudden sweeping movement: An owl swooped down on the rabbit.
See also: down, swoop
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

at one fell swoop

A single operation, often a violent one. This term was coined by Shakespeare, who used the metaphor of a hell-kite (probably a vulture) killing chickens for the murder of Macduff’s wife and children: “Oh, Hell-Kite! All? What, all my pretty chickens and their dam at one fell swoop?” (Macbeth, 4.3). The adjective fell was Old English for “fierce” or “savage.”
See also: fell, one, swoop
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer

one fell swoop

A single and rapid act. “Fell” comes from an Old English word for frightful and “swoop” describes the way hawks and other birds of prey drop out of the sky to capture their victims. Accordingly, something that is done “in one fell swoop,” whether or not it is awful, happens with no hesitation. Shakespeare coined the phrase in Macbeth, where the character Macduff laments the murders of his wife and children with “What, all my pretty chick- ens and their dam / At one fell swoop?”
See also: fell, one, swoop
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
See also:
  • at one fell swoop
  • at/in one fell swoop
  • in one fell swoop
  • one fell swoop, in
  • at a (single) blow
  • at a (single) stroke
  • at a blow
  • in one blow
  • at one stroke
  • at a/one stroke
References in periodicals archive
As a complement to the published winter schedule, Swoop has added three-times weekly service between Edmonton International Airport (YEG) and three-times weekly service between Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) and San Diego International Airport (SAN).
Swoop to introduce Edmonton and Abbotsford service to San Diego
"Puerto Vallarta is a brand-new route for Hamilton International and a very popular destination for Canadians," said Steven Greenway, President of Swoop. "Combining Swoop's ultra-low fare with the favorable exchange between the dollar and peso makes the value proposition of exploring Mexico enticing for families and budget travellers vacationers looking to escape the cold winter weather when services begin in January."
Puerto Vallarta Welcomes New Service by Swoop This Winter Confirming Third New Route in 2 Months; Is Voted a Top Destination to Visit in 2019 by Expedia.ca
"The 560 starlings are made from recycled plastic, which is lightweight and doesn't put as much pressure on the ground; they're now offering shelter and protection to wildlife; something that wouldn't have been possible if we'd used chalk or concrete to create Swoop."
Land art proves popular
So, in the seconds that it takes a bat to swoop down and capture a meal, it's using a complicated sonar system that scientists are only beginning to understand.
Echoes of hunting
"Hershey's Swoops is an exciting new product innovation," says Chuck Kuklic, market manager, Hershey's Franchise.
Swooping into a new realm
(1) To control mustang population, helicopters swoop down and thunder behind bands of fleeing mustangs, herding them into temporary corrals.
Mustangs in danger? Too many horses, too little land. (Population Ecology)
Their walls curve and swoop. Their ceilings are extremely active; they sweep like waves (and in one case the ceiling descends on the gathering like a mighty and rather sinister snake or screw).
Vitra's villa
Swoop said it will continue the service throughout the winter schedule, offering twice-weekly flights on Thursday and Sunday.
Swoop launches Kelowna/Las Vegas non-stop flight service
Witness Margaret Mathurin, 54, said of the swoop: "There were police everywhere.
Tube terror' teen is tasered
They've been known to swoop down in defence of their babies.
scare mail Dive bombing seagulls stop postmen delivering to estate
Swoop, on a hillside overlooking Elland, depicts a flock of starlings in flight.
Star quality; Flock artwork in spirit of Le Tour
KEEPING GUARD 3 Mother in nest WINGING 3 IT She leaves SWOOP 3 Buzzard goes in for the kill
Killer buzzes off with osprey chick
SIX men were arrested after an early morning police swoop on a Teesside primary school.
Six arrested in school raid
BURSCOUGH have completed a swoop for Bootle's Chris Tyson.
Linnets up for the fight as Tyson signs in; BURSCOUGH
Edited by Tony Woolway Police swoop on homes in hunt for bombs POLICE investigating the Newport bomb blast swooped on dozens of houses yesterday searching for explosives and taking in men for questioning.
RETRO REPORT