sway around

USAGE SUMMARY

"sway around" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing someone or something moving around in a way that is swaying or rocking. For example, "As the boat swayed around in the water, the passengers were feeling a little sea sick."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

A good pioneer would stand ramrod straight, but Duka remembered, "I used to sway around".

The New York Times

"First they sing, then they lock arms and sway around, then they cry a bit and in the end, the team's supposed to play Bayern off the park.

The Guardian - Sport

Setting the standard in the overture, some of his speeds verged on the vertiginous, especially for the Auto-da-f�� number, where the concert staging devised by Thomas Kiemie required the chorus to sway around as well as sing, and for Candide's final aria, Nothing More Than This, which was robbed of some of its poignancy by his briskness.

The Guardian - Music

("You don't have to think if you're charismatic," Constance observes. "You just sway around. You don't have to remember any words or facts or anything difficult like that -- you just go off in a sort of coma and think how wonderful you are").

The New York Times - Books

In the 80s, it was commonplace to get naked, bash a tambourine and sway around near the stones nonchalantly.

Vice

But traditional mores hold sway around you, most important in the preference for sons over daughters.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

As the train swayed around hairpin curves, passengers clutched at seat backs and angled their legs so as to lessen the shock to their knees, should the crash come, as it inevitably did.

The New Yorker

On the up hill my body swayed around unable to walk.

Wikipedia

John Doran's acclaImed memoir Jolly Lad, based on his long-running column MENK for VICE is available from Strange Attractor Presse Attractor Press.

Vice

Obviously Kolja's butthole must have been very, very thirsty because when we asked him to walk a straight line after ten minutes of ass-orption he miserably failed, swaying around like a 13-year old girl after her first beer.

Vice

If the bag sways around or sits too low on your back it can cause back pain and spine problems, especially if it is very heavy.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sway around" to describe a gentle, rhythmic motion or a lack of stability. For example, describe dancers at a concert, or a building during an earthquake.

Common error

Don't use "sway around" to describe a violent or abrupt movement. The phrase implies a gentle, continuous motion, so a phrase like "jerk around" or "shake violently" would be more suitable for such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "sway around" primarily functions as a descriptive element, portraying a specific type of movement. This involves gentle, rhythmic motion or instability. Ludwig AI identifies this usage across various examples, indicating its established place in the English lexicon.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sway around" is a phrasal verb used to describe a gentle or unsteady movement. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and commonly found in various contexts, primarily in news and media. The phrase serves to paint a vivid picture of a scene by portraying a specific manner of motion, and is suitable for both formal and informal use. Related phrases like "oscillate around" and "fluctuate around" provide nuanced alternatives depending on the desired emphasis. Remember to avoid using "sway around" to describe forceful or abrupt actions; instead, use it to convey a gentle, rhythmic motion. Ludwig AI confirms the appropriateness of "sway around" in a variety of contexts, solidifying its place as a useful descriptive phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

oscillate around

This phrase emphasizes a regular back-and-forth movement, often implying a central point or equilibrium.

fluctuate around

This suggests irregular variations around a certain value or condition.

swing around

Focuses on a broader, more sweeping movement in a circular or semi-circular path.

move back and forth

This is a more literal description of swaying, lacking the nuance of gentle or rhythmic movement.

influence indirectly

Shifts the focus to the exertion of influence rather than physical movement.

affect indirectly

Similar to "influence indirectly" but emphasizes the result of the influence.

manipulate indirectly

Suggests a deliberate and possibly deceptive form of influence.

bend over

Emphasizes bending or tilting from a vertical position.

roll around

Implies a circular movement along a surface.

dance around

This suggests a more lively and less predictable movement.

FAQs

How can I use "sway around" in a sentence?

You can use "sway around" to describe a gentle, rhythmic movement, such as "The dancers began to "sway around" the dance floor" or to describe something unstable, such as "The building started to "sway around" during the earthquake".

What does "sway around" mean?

"Sway around" typically means to move gently back and forth or from side to side, often rhythmically. It can also suggest a lack of stability or being influenced by external forces.

What can I say instead of "sway around"?

You can use alternatives like "oscillate around", "fluctuate around", or "swing around" depending on the context. For example, if describing wind, consider "move back and forth."

Is "sway around" formal or informal?

"Sway around" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it appears more frequently in news and media or descriptive writing than in highly technical or academic texts.