1 B2 neutral
To leave a main road or route by turning off in a smooth, curving movement.
"They swung off the main highway onto a narrow country road."
inseparable
swing off
B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
To leave a main route or direction by turning off in a swinging, arc-like motion.
In plain English
To turn off a road or path with a smooth curving movement.
What does "swing off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To depart from a fixed object (such as a rope or bar) by releasing one's grip while swinging.
"The gymnast swung off the high bar and landed cleanly on the mat."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To swing (move in an arc) off a main line or path, departing from it in a curving motion.
Actually means
To turn off a road or path with a smooth curving movement.
Usage tip
Most commonly used in descriptions of vehicles, paths, or people changing direction fluidly. Less common than 'turn off' or 'branch off' but found in literary and journalistic writing for variety.
Words that pair with "swing off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
road highway path route trail junction
How to conjugate "swing off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
swing off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
swings off
he/she/it
Past simple
swinged off
yesterday
Past participle
swinged off
have + pp
-ing form
swinging off
continuous
Hear "swing off" in the wild
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Other ways to say "swing off"
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Keep exploring
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