come and sweep

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "come and sweep" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when inviting someone to perform the action of sweeping, often in a casual or informal context. Example: "Could you come and sweep the floor before the guests arrive?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

There will come a time when he will come and sweep out the Nazis.

The New York Times

And you'll be a long time waiting for a handsome prince to come and sweep you off your feet.

The Guardian - Opinion

"To come and sweep the Boston Celtics is history in of itself," a beaming Kidd said after scoring a game-high 29 points and playing 53 minutes.

The New York Times - Sports

My first-grade mind connected Dorothy's peril in the cyclone with my perceived jeopardy sleeping on our house's second floor – definitely much too high to be safe, according to drill standards – and I lived in dread of the twister that would certainly come and sweep me away to a strange land full of wicked witches and flying monkeys.

The New York Times

The song does not obviously reference politics, aside from the lyric "Don't get caught under flashing neon signs in recessionary times," and a shot of a sign in the video that reads: "Jesus will soon come and sweep all politicians from power".

Independent

ITV's shareholders have been so desperate for a suitor to come and sweep them off their feet with a handsome cash offer, that even an outright denial of interest from Bertelsmann-owned RTL Group has made their hearts surge.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The narrator of Nikki Giovanni's poem "All I Gotta Do" is a sleepless woman repeating to herself in a voice of mounting frustration that all she has to do is sit and wait until an unnamed something (a lover? a political movement?) comes and sweeps her away.

The New York Times - Arts

"The Beatles came and swept it all away".

Los Angeles Times

But just at that moment, a wave came and swept his father away.

Huffington Post

As she presses the elevator button down, Nick comes and sweeps her off her feet.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "come and sweep" when you want to express an intention of arriving to tidy up a space, whether literal or metaphorical. Be mindful of the context to ensure it aligns with the informal tone of the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "come and sweep" in formal or professional writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "arrive and rectify" or "attend to and resolve" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come and sweep" functions primarily as a compound verb phrase, where "come" acts as an auxiliary verb indicating movement or arrival, followed by the imperative verb "sweep", indicating the action to be performed. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Wiki

29%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

14%

Science

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "come and sweep" is a grammatically sound phrase that functions as a compound verb phrase, generally used informally to request or invite someone to arrive and tidy up a space or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, though advises against using it in formal contexts, where phrases like "attend to and resolve" would be more appropriate. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media and Wiki content, highlighting its common yet informal usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arrive and clear out

Focuses on the action of removing something completely upon arrival.

appear and tidy up

Highlights the action of tidying as the primary purpose of arriving.

show up and eradicate

Implies a more forceful and complete removal of something.

materialize and eliminate

Suggests a more formal or even magical appearance followed by removal.

descend and cleanse

Conveys a sense of purification or thorough cleaning from a higher position.

enter and sanitize

Emphasizes the act of disinfecting or making something hygienic upon arrival.

reach and purify

Suggests a journey to a destination, with the intent to purify.

access and rectify

Focuses on gaining access to a location to correct or fix something.

visit and scrub

Implies a less formal, hands-on cleaning process.

get there and clean

A more straightforward and informal way of saying to arrive and clean.

FAQs

How can I use "come and sweep" in a sentence?

You can use "come and sweep" to invite someone to tidy up a space or situation. For example, "Could you "come and sweep" the living room before the guests arrive?"

What's a more formal way to say "come and sweep"?

In formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "attend to and resolve" or "address and rectify" instead of the more casual ""come and sweep"".

Is "come and sweep" appropriate for professional communication?

While grammatically correct, ""come and sweep"" is generally too informal for professional settings. Opt for alternatives that convey a more professional tone.

Which is correct, "come and sweep" or "come and clean"?

Both ""come and sweep"" and "come and clean" are grammatically correct, but ""come and sweep"" implies a more thorough cleaning action that include other actions than just cleaning.