swat away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "swat away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the action of forcefully dismissing or rejecting something, often in a physical or metaphorical sense. Example: "She tried to swat away the annoying fly that kept buzzing around her head."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Many Nigerians swat away criticism as misrepresentations.

The Economist

In an interview, Mr. Abdullah tried to swat away that notion.

The New York Times

Franco would not reveal his preference, but he did not swat away the second scenario.

The New York Times - Sports

The final blow was delivered by James, who rose high to swat away Tiago Splitter's dunk attempt.

The New York Times - Sports

Thus did Blunt swat away the one legitimate rationale for forcing Petraeus from his job because of his affair.

The New York Times

Relatives — one per patient — swat away flies, wipe brows and coax pouches of rehydrating solution into gaping mouths.

The New York Times

In 2016, Mill is a human punching bag, and Drake can swat away pretenders as if they were midges.

The Guardian - Music

Not long now, David, then you can put your feet up, swat away, be as silly as you like.

The Guardian

Until recently, Angela Merkel's CDU party had successfully managed to swat away attempts to introduce a boardroom gender quota.

The Guardian

They were long-suffering and more than able to swat away the attentions of various spotty herberts.

The Guardian - Music

While Ms. Bhabha's previous efforts have sometimes tended in this direction, they have also tended to swat away these analogies.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "swat away" when you want to convey a sense of quick, sometimes dismissive, rejection or defense against something annoying or threatening. For instance, "He tried to swat away the reporter's persistent questions."

Common error

Avoid using "swat away" in highly formal or academic writing, as it can sound too informal or colloquial. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "reject", "dismiss", or "refute" when a more serious and professional tone is necessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "swat away" functions primarily as a phrasal verb. It describes the act of forcefully rejecting or dismissing something, either physically or metaphorically. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and commonly used expression. For example, you can "swat away flies" or "swat away criticism".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "swat away" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe the act of forcefully rejecting or dismissing something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is widely used, particularly in news and media contexts. While generally acceptable, it's important to consider the formality of the context and opt for more neutral alternatives like "dismiss" or "reject" in more formal settings. Be mindful of overusing it in academic writing, where a more professional tone is expected. Related phrases include "brush aside" and "fend off", each with subtle differences in meaning. Remember to use "swat away" when you want to convey a sense of quick rejection or defense against something annoying or threatening.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

brush aside

Emphasizes a dismissive treatment, minimizing the importance of something.

wave aside

Indicates a casual dismissal, often with a gesture.

fend off

Suggests defending against something, often implying a persistent threat or annoyance.

ward off

Similar to "fend off", indicating an attempt to avert or prevent something undesirable.

deflect

Suggests redirecting or averting something, like criticism or an attack.

shrug off

Implies indifference or a lack of concern when dismissing something.

parry

Indicates a skillful maneuver to evade or ward off an attack or question.

dismiss

Focuses on the act of rejecting or disregarding something, lacking the physical imagery.

rebuff

Implies a blunt or abrupt rejection, often of advances or suggestions.

reject

Highlights a firm refusal to accept something, without necessarily implying a quick or dismissive action.

FAQs

How can I use "swat away" in a sentence?

You can use "swat away" to describe physically blocking something, like "He rose to swat away a dunk attempt". You can also use it metaphorically to describe rejecting something, like "The politician tried to swat away the allegations".

What are some alternatives to "swat away"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "dismiss", "reject", "fend off", or "brush aside".

Is "swat away" appropriate for formal writing?

While "swat away" is widely understood, it can come across as informal. For formal writing, consider using more neutral alternatives like "reject" or "dismiss".

What's the difference between "swat away" and "ignore"?

"Swat away" implies an active rejection or dismissal, whereas "ignore" simply means to pay no attention to something. You swat away something you acknowledge and want to get rid of, whereas you ignore something you may not even notice or choose not to engage with.