sweep away
To completely remove or destroy something with a strong force, like a flood, or to make someone feel very strongly about something.
Meanings
To physically remove or destroy something completely by means of a powerful force such as water, wind, or a crowd.
"The tsunami swept away entire villages within minutes."
"The flood waters swept away houses, bridges, and livestock."
— BBC News, reporting on South Asian monsoon floods, widely paraphrased in various reports.
To overwhelm someone completely with a strong emotion, enthusiasm, or feeling.
"He was swept away by the beauty of the music and couldn't hold back tears."
To eliminate old ideas, systems, or traditions, replacing them with something new.
"The revolution swept away centuries of aristocratic privilege overnight."
Has both a literal sense (destruction by natural forces) and a common figurative sense (being emotionally overwhelmed). Also used for cleaning thoroughly. Newspapers use it frequently for floods, storms, and political upheavals.
Commonly used with
Forms
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Synonyms
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