swing

1 verb past tense and past participle swung,

1 MOVE BACKWARDS/FORWARDS (I, T) to move backwards and forwards hanging from a fixed point, or to make something do this: a sign swinging in the wind | The soldiers swung their arms as they marched.

2 MOVE IN A CURVE (intransitive always + adv/prep, transitive always + adv/prep) to move quickly in a smooth curve, or to make something move like this: The heavy gates swung shut. | swing sth through/into etc sth: She swung the car into the drive. | Bradley swung himself up into the saddle.

3 CHANGE (I, T) if emotions or opinions swing or something swings them, they change quickly to the opposite of what they were: His mood could swing suddenly from great joy to complete despair.

4 SWING IT informal to make special arrangements for something to happen, especially something that is not usually allowed: I'll see if I can swing it so my wife can come on that business trip with me.

5 PLAY (I) to sit on a swing 2 (1) and make it move backwards and forwards by bending and unbending your legs: The girl swung higher and higher.

6 swing for sth old-fashioned to be killed by hanging (hang1 (3)) as a punishment for a crime

7 swing both ways informal to be bisexual

8 the swinging sixties the years 1960 to 1969, thought of as a time when there was an increase in social and sexual freedom

9 swing the lead BrE old-fashioned to avoid doing your work or duty, especially by pretending to be ill

—see also: no room to swing a cat room 1 (2) swing around/round phrasal verb

1 (I, T) to turn around quickly or make something turn around quickly, to face in the opposite direction: He swung around and yelled “that's a damn lie!” | swing sth around/round: In seconds they had swung the big gun around.

2 (I) if a wind swings around it changed direction suddenly and quickly: The wind swung round to the North-East.

swing by phrasal verb (I, T) AmE informal to visit a place or person for a short time, usually for a particular purpose: swing by sth: I'll swing by the grocery store on my way home. 2 noun

1 SEAT WITH ROPES (C) a seat hanging from ropes or chains, for children to play on: kids playing on the swings in the park

2 MOVEMENT (C) a swinging movement with your arm, leg etc especially made in order hit something: take a swing at sth: He took a swing at my head and missed.

3 GOLF (singular) the swinging movement of your arms and body when you hit the ball in golf: I spent months correcting my swing.

4 CHANGE (C) a noticeable change, especially in opinions or ideas: a big swing towards right-wing ideology

5 MUSIC (U) jazz music of the 1930s and 1940s with a strong regular beat, usually played by a big band

6 get into the swing of sth BrE to become fully involved in an activity or situation: As soon as you get into the swing of it, you'll find it's quite easy.

7 be in full swing if an event or process is in full swing it has reached its highest level of activity: The party was in full swing when the police burst in.

8 swings and roundabouts BrE informal used to say that every situation or decision has advantages and disadvantages

9 go with a swing BrE

a) if a party or activity goes with a swing it is lively, enjoyable and successful

b) if music goes with a swing it has a strong beat and a clear tune that is easy to dance to