sweep
verb uk/swiːp/ us/swiːp/ swept | swept
(CLEAN)
B2 [ T ]打扫，清扫，扫除
to clean especially a floor by using a brush to collect the dirt into one place from which it can be removed
sweep the floor 扫地
- More examples
- She swept the ashes from the fireplace.
- When I arrived he was sweeping the leaves from the driveway.
(MOVE)
C2 [ I + adv/prep ]（尤指快速有力地）移动，冲
to move, especially quickly and powerfully
Everyone looked up as she swept into the room. 她冲进房间的时候，每个人都抬头看她。
The fire swept (= spread quickly) through the house. 火势迅速在房子里蔓延开来。
The National Party swept into power (= easily won the election) with a majority of almost 200. 民族党以近200票的多数优势顺利当选。
[ T ]风行，风靡，迅速蔓延，迅速传播
to quickly spread through and influence an area
A 1970s fashion revival is sweeping Europe. 20世纪70年代的时尚复苏潮流正风靡整个欧洲。
[ T ]（尤指为寻找某物而）横扫，掠过
to travel across all of an area, especially when looking for something
American minesweepers are sweeping the Arabian Sea. 美国的扫雷艇正在阿拉伯海扫雷。
[ I usually + adv/prep ]延伸，蜿蜒
If a road, river, range of mountains, set of steps, etc. sweeps in a particular direction, they follow a particular curved path.
The road sweeps down to the coast. 这条路一直延伸到海岸。
- More examples
- The article describes the religious mania which is sweeping the US.
- A wave of strikes swept the country.
- A wave of panic swept through the crowd and people started running.
- The hurricane swept across Japan.
- The fire brigade tried to bring the blaze under control but it swept quickly throughout the building.
(REMOVE)
B2 [ T usually + adv/prep ]（尤指迅猛地）带走，卷走
to remove and/or take in a particular direction, especially in a fast and powerful way
A large wave swept away half the sandcastle. 一个巨浪卷走了沙堡的一半。
She swept the pile of papers and books into her bag. 她把一堆报纸和书胡乱塞进包里。
The boat was swept out to sea (= away from land) by the tide. 那条船被潮水卷到了海中。
Government troops swept aside the rebel forces (= caused them to move away from the area in which they were). 政府军队迅速肃清了叛军。
(WIN)
[ T ] US informal大获全胜，一举获胜，轻易获胜
to win all the parts of a competition, or to win very easily
The Yankees swept the four-game series with the Blue Jays. 扬基队连续在四场比赛中大胜蓝鸟队。
Idioms
sweep someone off their feetidiom 使（某人）为之倾倒，使（某人）彻底爱上
to make someone become suddenly and completely in love with you
The first time he met her, he was completely swept off his feet. 他对她一见倾心。
sweep something under the carpetidiom UK (US sweep something under the rug) 隐瞒，掩饰
to hide a problem or try to keep it secret instead of dealing with it
The committee is being accused of sweeping financial problems under the carpet to avoid embarrassment. 这个委员会被指为避免尴尬而隐瞒财务问题。
sweep the boardidiom 囊括全部奖项，大获全胜
to win everything that is available
Australia swept the board in the swimming, with gold medals in every race. 澳大利亚大获全胜，囊括了游泳项目的所有金牌。
Phrasal verbs
sweep someone along 令（某人）着迷，令（某人）倾倒，深深吸引（某人）
If a feeling or someone's behaviour sweeps you along, it makes you feel very enthusiastic about an activity and very involved in it.
We were swept along by her eloquence. 她的能言善辩让我们为之倾倒。
sweep something aside 对…置之不理，无视，对…不予考虑
to refuse to consider something or to treat it as important
They swept his doubts and objections aside. 他们对他的疑虑和反对置之不理。
sweep
noun uk/swiːp/ us/swiːp/
(MOVEMENT)
[ C ]掠过;扫过
a movement, especially a quick, powerful one or one to search an area
With a sweep (= horizontal movement) of its tail, the alligator knocked her under the water. 鳄鱼尾巴一扫，将她打落水中。
[ C ]一片（长长且弯曲的）土地（海域、河流等）
a long, often curved, area of land, sea, river, etc.
A broad sweep of flat countryside stretched to the horizon in all directions. 平坦宽阔的乡村向四面延伸，一望无际。
(CLEAN)
[ C usually singular ] UK打扫，清扫，扫除
the act of sweeping something to clean it
I've given the kitchen floor a sweep (= I have swept it). 我已经清扫了厨房的地板。
[ C ]烟囱清扫工（chimney sweep的老式说法）
old-fashioned for chimney sweep
(WIN)
a clean sweep 全胜，囊括所有奖项
a situation in which one player, team, etc. wins everything that is available
Romania made a clean sweep of the medals. 罗马尼亚囊括了所有的奖牌。
(TV VIEWERS)
sweeps[ plural ] US 调查收视率的时段
a period of time when measurements of the number of people watching different television stations are made so that the cost of advertising on each station can be set