sweep away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sweep away" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to mean to remove something, usually a large amount of something, in an energetic and thorough manner. For example, "The mayor promised to sweep away years of neglect from the city's infrastructure."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Perform a down block by sweeping your left fist down to sweep away an imagined kick or low punch.

WikiHow

It could sweep away families and history.

The New York Times

Mrs. Merkel's government has pledged to sweep away such barriers.

The New York Times

Revolution will sweep away all in its path.

Independent

In most instances, cells diligently sweep away this debris.

The New York Times

They sweep away and incinerate nearly everything in their path.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"I don't need to sweep away any bitterness".

The New York Times

It could, too, sweep away the city's best-laid plans.

The New York Times

Mr Putin promises to "sweep away all that stands in the way of our national development".

The Economist

The danger, however, is that settlements can sweep away violations without addressing them.

The New Yorker

She's been featured on a Time magazine cover holding a broom (to sweep away bad teachers).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sweep away" when you want to convey a sense of thorough and often rapid removal or elimination of something, whether it's physical debris or abstract concepts like old ideas or regulations. For example, "The new policies aim to sweep away bureaucratic obstacles to innovation."

Common error

Avoid using "sweep away" in overly passive constructions where the actor is unclear. For instance, instead of "The problems were swept away", specify who or what did the sweeping: "The new reforms swept away the problems."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sweep away" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, indicating the action of removing something, either physically or metaphorically. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sweep away" is a phrasal verb that is grammatically correct and very commonly used to describe the act of removing something thoroughly and often forcefully. As Ludwig AI highlights, its usage spans various contexts, from describing physical actions to metaphorical eliminations. The phrase is particularly frequent in news and media, wiki, and science, where it conveys a sense of decisive action. While generally neutral in register, it's crucial to avoid overuse in passive constructions for clarity. Consider alternatives like "eliminate completely" or "wipe out" to vary your language. The best practice is to use "sweep away" when you wish to convey thorough and fast removal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wipe out

Implies destruction or obliteration, similar to one meaning of "sweep away".

eliminate completely

Focuses on thorough removal but lacks the energetic connotation of "sweep away".

clear away

Suggests a removal of obstacles or unwanted items, less forceful than "sweep away".

obliterate

Focuses on the complete destruction or blotting out of something.

do away with

Implies discarding or discontinuing something, similar to removing something undesirable.

eradicate

Emphasizes the complete destruction of something undesirable.

remove entirely

Highlights the completeness of the removal, lacking the sweeping action.

get rid of

A more general term for disposal, less forceful than "sweep away".

overthrow

Conveys forceful removal of authority or power, with the nuance of "sweep away".

abolish

Specifically refers to the formal cancellation of a practice or system.

FAQs

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

You can use "sweep away" to describe removing something forcefully or completely. For example, "The floodwaters swept away everything in their path" or "The new government promised to sweep away corruption".

What can I say instead of "sweep away"?

You can use alternatives like "eliminate completely", "wipe out", or "clear away" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "sweep away" or "swept away"?

"Sweep away" is the infinitive form, while "swept away" is the past tense and past participle. Use "sweep away" with auxiliary verbs like 'will' or 'can', and "swept away" when describing something that already happened.

What's the difference between "sweep away" and "brush aside"?

"Sweep away" implies a more forceful and complete removal, while "brush aside" suggests dismissing something as unimportant or irrelevant.