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Glite Dictionary
to swing about

to swing about

1 4.8
To turn quickly to face another direction or change your opinion suddenly
  • phrasal verb
  • /swɪŋ əˈbaʊt/
translation icon : girar
  • After hearing a strange noise, he swung about to see what was behind him.

Examples

  • Slowly, Polaris swung about, pointing its grid toward Aello.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • He heard quick footsteps behind him, and a hand brushed his sleeve as he swung about.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • "Meredydd swung about and found herself face to face with the girl's mother.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Ever so easily, the Ogunquit swung about into the current, coming to rest alongside the dock.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • He backed up quickly and swung about on the road, turning the truck toward town.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • He swung about to track Pestilence and sent a new lance of fire into the Shadowen's dark back.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Thoris tapped his shoulder again, and Casimir swung about irritably.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • She swung about to face the person who called her name.

  • The dancer swung about gracefully before stepping into a new position.

Synonyms

to turn around
vsto swing about
384 2.0

To move your body to face the opposite direction or change your attitude

is abrupt rather than slow or neutral
to turn away
vsto swing about
94 2.3

Move your body so you do not face someone or something

is an abrupt turn to face elsewhere rather than simply avoiding someone
to veer
vsto swing about
63 4.2

To change direction suddenly

is an abrupt change in facing rather than a simple path deviation
to swerve
vsto swing about
61 2.8

To turn suddenly to avoid hitting something

is an abrupt turn of facing or attitude not specifically to avoid obstacles
to turn to look
vsto swing about
33 1.0

To move your body so you can see someone or something

is an abrupt turn for attitude or direction rather than only to look
to slew
vsto swing about
15 7.6

To slide or turn sideways suddenly, often out of control

is an abrupt controlled turn rather than a sudden uncontrolled slide
to swing around
vsto swing about
10 3.2

Turn quickly to face the opposite direction

has identical meaning but uses an alternative phrasing
to zig
vsto swing about
5 6.7

To move quickly in a different direction to avoid an obstacle

is an abrupt facing change rather than alternating path movement
to wheel around
vsto swing about
3 4.2

To turn quickly to face a different direction

is a general abrupt turn rather than a pivoting motion
to turn on one's heel
vsto swing about
3 7.4

To leave quickly by suddenly walking away because you are angry or shocked

is abrupt turning without implying leaving or reacting
to turn round
vsto swing about
  • UK
1 1.4

Move your body so you face the opposite direction

is abrupt rather than neutral or gradual
to about-face
vsto swing about
  • US
1 6.1

To turn quickly to face the other way

is abrupt turning in any direction, not only a full 180

Antonyms

to stand still
75 1.0

Stay upright in one place without moving

How Abrupt

to spin
227 1.0
to swing about
1 4.8
to veer
63 4.2
turn
485 1.0

Surface Forms

swing about infinitive
swinging about present participle
swings about third person singular
swung about past
swung about past participle

Morphology

swing + about

The meaning 'to turn or move abruptly to face another direction' is directly compositional from 'swing' (move suddenly) + 'about' (into a reversed position/direction). This motion verb + particle pattern is productive and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would very likely infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The phrasal verb swing about comes from the picture of something moving quickly to face the other way, like a gate or a person who suddenly turns. Because the parts swing and about show this quick change of direction, the phrase now means 'turn quickly' or 'change your mind' suddenly.