swipe away

USAGE SUMMARY

"swipe away" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to quickly or forcefully move something out of the way, often by using a hand or object to push or brush it away. It can also refer to removing something from a surface or screen by using a swiping motion. Example: As I walked through the crowded street, I had to constantly swipe away the dangling tree branches that were blocking my path. Another example: She swiped away the tears from her cheeks and forced a smile, trying to hide her emotions.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Tech

General Usage

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

The Supreme Court might swipe away Judge Reinhardt's ruling.

The Economist

Stories like Ujjwal's are mere specks on our retina displays; we zoom out, swipe away, and turn off.

The New York Times

Page A25 Business GIVING TO SALVATION ARMY IS JUST A SWIPE AWAY The Salvation Army has begun shifting into digital donations, because fewer shoppers carry change or bills.

The New York Times

Can you concentrate on Flaubert when Facebook is only a swipe away, or give your true devotion to Mr. Darcy while Twitter beckons?

The New York Times

And we might be a kind of artificial intelligence Scientists have already claimed that having all of the world's information available just a swipe away is making huge changes to the way our brains work.

Independent

There's also a far greater integration of Google services, with Google Now just a single swipe away from the home screen and Google Hangouts replacing the default texting app.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Digital note-taking apps also leave their users only a finger-swipe away from e-mail or Candy Crush.

The New Yorker

Zakrajsek and Weisiger hope that speed and simplicity will build excitement more easily, particularly with a younger demographic accustomed to entertainment being just a finger-swipe away.

The New Yorker

The iWish app allows you to input your life goals — suggestions range from "Dive the Galapagos Islands" to "Raise a Happy & Healthy Child" — and have them always only a finger-swipe away.

The New Yorker

But Luongo reached back and swiped away the rolling puck.

The New York Times - Sports

Today, the company says that two million Americans are happily swiping away.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "swipe away" when describing a quick, often dismissive, action of removing something, especially in the context of digital interfaces or abstract concepts. For example, "She swiped away her doubts and moved forward."

Common error

Avoid using "swipe away" when the intended meaning is to passively ignore or accept something. "Swipe away" implies an active, often decisive, removal or dismissal. Passive neglect is better expressed by words like "overlook" or "ignore".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "swipe away" is that of a phrasal verb. It typically describes an action performed on a digital interface or metaphorically to dismiss thoughts or feelings. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Tech

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "swipe away" is a phrasal verb commonly used to describe the action of quickly dismissing or removing something, either physically on a screen or metaphorically. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely understood, particularly in tech and news contexts. While it leans towards a neutral to informal register, it's best practice to consider more formal synonyms like "dismiss" or "remove" in academic or professional writing. It is frequently used in digital contexts, but can also be used to describe the act of dismissing thoughts or feeling.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

brush aside

Indicates dismissing something quickly and without much thought.

dismiss

Implies rejecting or disregarding something, similar to removing it from attention.

wave off

Suggests dismissing something with a hand gesture.

discard

Suggests getting rid of something considered useless or unwanted.

shoo away

Implies driving something away, often used for animals or unwanted things.

reject

Indicates refusing to accept or consider something.

clear away

Suggests removing something to make space.

eliminate

Means to completely remove or get rid of something.

get rid of

A general term for removing something unwanted.

remove

A simple and direct way to say to take something away.

FAQs

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

You can use "swipe away" to describe the action of quickly dismissing something, especially on a digital device, or to metaphorically dismiss a feeling or thought. For example, "He swiped away the notification" or "She tried to "brush away" her fears".

What are some alternatives to "swipe away"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "dismiss", "discard", or "reject" if you mean to actively refuse something. If you mean to physically remove something, you can use alternatives such as "clear away" or "remove".

Is it correct to use "swipe away" in formal writing?

While "swipe away" is widely understood, it might be more appropriate to use a more formal synonym like "dismiss" or "remove" in academic or professional contexts. However, in news or tech-related content, "swipe away" is perfectly acceptable.

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

"Swipe away" implies a more active and decisive removal or dismissal, often quick and efficient. "Ignore", on the other hand, suggests a passive overlooking of something. You "swipe away" a notification, but you might "ignore" a general problem.