Browse all

swing back

B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

To move back the other way like a pendulum, or for something (like an election result or fashion) to go back to how it was before.

Literal meaning: To swing (rotate in an arc) back to a previous position, like a pendulum returning.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

Of a physical object: to move back to its original position in a swinging arc.

"The heavy gate swung back and hit him as he walked through."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 idiomatic neutral

Of public opinion, voting trends, or moods: to reverse direction and return toward a previous position.

"After two years of decline, voter support began to swing back towards the governing party."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Very commonly used in political journalism to describe opinion polls or election results reversing. Also used in physical descriptions of doors, pendulums, and moving objects. The 'pendulum' metaphor is explicit in much political writing.

Commonly used with

pendulum opinion vote polls door mood

Forms

Base
swing back
I/you/we/they
3rd person
swings back
he/she/it
Past simple
swinged back
yesterday
Past participle
swinged back
have + pp
-ing form
swinging back
continuous

Understand "swing back" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Synonyms

revert return bounce back shift back reverse

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "swing back" on Looplines