sweep away
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle away
Meanings
Carry off forcefully
Why “away”? A broom sweeps aside. Unwanted items are pushed out of the scene.
“The flood swept away the bridge.”
“The strong current swept the canoe away.”
Don't confuse with
Sweep away means carry off forcefully. Sweep aside means refuse to consider objections, often dismissively.
Test yourself
“The flood swept away the bridge.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
sweep aside
A contrast learners often mix up
Refuse to consider objections, often dismissively
blow away
Same away pattern: removal
Be carried away by the wind; Greatly impress someone
brush away
Same away pattern: removal
Push aside dismissively
carry away
Same away pattern: removal
Become so excited or absorbed that you lose self-control
cart away
Same away pattern: removal
Take something or someone away in a vehicle, often without ceremony
clear away
Same away pattern: removal
Remove items to tidy a space
do away
Same away pattern: removal
Remove something completely or abolish it; Murder someone (informal)
give away
Same away pattern: removal
Give something free of charge to someone; Reveal a secret, often unintentionally; Formally hand a bride to the groom at a wedding
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