took a swing

USAGE SUMMARY

"took a swing" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to make a forceful movement with your arm or hand, often to hit something. Example: "He took a swing at the punching bag in frustration."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Boogaard took a swing with his long right arm.

The New York Times - Sports

The ex-Beatle took a swing at Fritz but missed.

The Guardian - Music

I took a swing, and Maantoa took another.

The New Yorker

He pushed me, then took a swing at me.

The New York Times - Sports

So Johnson took a swing at the Travers.

The New York Times - Sports

"I took a swing the other day and I was like, 'Golly, my back,' " he said.

The New York Times - Sports

"We were arguing and he pushed me," he recalled, "so I took a swing at him".

The New York Times

"They said, 'We know you know something.' One of them took a swing and he missed".

The New York Times

Before long, Mr. Capon took a swing by his booth and gave him a nudge.

The New York Times - Food

Colbert was hardly the only one who took a swing at Trump after Saturday's statement.

The Washington Post

Hannity tossed up a softball about the economy, and Trump took a swing.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an actual physical strike, consider adding details about the target and the outcome to make the scenario clearer to the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "took a swing" in contexts where the figurative meaning could be misinterpreted as a literal attempt to strike someone. Provide sufficient context to prevent such misunderstandings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took a swing" primarily functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes a forceful movement, often to hit something, or an attempt to do so. Examples show it used in both literal (physical action) and figurative (attempting something challenging) contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Sports

21%

Academia

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "took a swing" is a common and versatile phrase used to describe a physical action, an attempt, or a critical remark. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English. The phrase appears frequently in news and sports contexts, suggesting a neutral to slightly informal register. It's important to provide sufficient context to avoid misinterpretations between the literal and figurative meanings. Alternatives include ""made an attempt"", "launched an attack", and ""threw a punch"", depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

threw a punch

Specifically describes a fist-based attack.

took a jab

Implies a quick, less forceful strike or verbal remark.

made an attempt

Focuses on the effort made, omitting the specific action.

took a crack

Informal way to express trying something.

launched an attack

Emphasizes aggression and initiation of conflict.

gave it a shot

Informal expression for attempting something.

delivered a blow

Highlights the impact of a hit or strike.

tried his hand

Focuses on the attempt at a task or endeavor.

made a move

Broader; suggests any action, not necessarily aggressive.

undertook an effort

Highlights the initiation of a significant task.

FAQs

How can I use "took a swing" in a sentence?

You can use "took a swing" to describe a physical action, like "He "threw a punch" at the bully", or a figurative attempt, such as "She "made an attempt" to fix the problem".

What are some alternatives to "took a swing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like ""made an attempt"", "launched an attack", or ""threw a punch"".

Is it correct to say "take a swing" or "took a swing"?

Both are correct, but "take a swing" is the infinitive form, while "took a swing" is the past tense. Use "took a swing" when describing an action that already happened. For example: "He "made an attempt" to hit the ball yesterday".

What's the difference between "took a swing at" and "took a swing with"?

"Took a swing at" implies targeting something, either literally or figuratively. "Took a swing with" implies using something to swing, such as a bat or club.