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Glite Dictionary
to swing wide

to swing wide

1 3.9
Open a door or gate fully by moving it on its hinges
  • phrasal verb
  • /swɪŋ waɪd/
: abrirse de par en par
  • Without thinking, he waved his hand in a simple opening spell, and the heavy gilt-and-enamel doors swung wide.
  • door swung wide
  • swung wide open
  • gates swung wide

Examples

  • The door swung wide open and Konga bounded through the opening.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • But before he could obtain an answer, there came a harsh crash at the door, then another, then a third which splintered the portal at the lockplate and sent it swinging wide open to the wintry blast.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Then last week a door that had always been shut swung wide open.

    The Good Girl (2002)

  • The door swung wide, and he fell into her arms.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • A pause, then the door swung wide.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • The shattered door swung wide.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • The door swings wide, and Martinez is there, stunned and glorious, arms out to the world.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • In the silence, I called "Stacey!" The door swung wide and Dr. X stood in an open bathrobe.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Gates as clear as glass swung wide at Brigit's approach, and two elven footmen nodded politely to the knight as she passed.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • As the strong wind blew, the gate swung wide open, letting the sunlight flood the yard.

Synonyms

to open
vsto swing wide
∞ 1.0

To lead into another room or space

involves moving fully on hinges to create a complete passage
to swing out
vsto swing wide
6 3.9

To move outward in a wide, sweeping motion

focuses on creating a full passage via hinged movement rather than just outward motion

Antonyms

to close
∞ 1.0

To shut something so it is not open

How Wide

to fly open
11 3.3
to swing wide
1 3.9
to open
∞ 1.0
to crack open
15 2.6

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

swing + wide

The meaning 'to open completely by moving on hinges' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'swing' (move on a pivot or hinge) with 'wide' (broadly or fully). This motion-verb + adverb composition is a common, predictable pattern (and has parallels in other languages), so a B1 learner who knows both words should infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Swing wide comes from the simple picture of a door or gate that swings on its hinges until it is wide open, making a big space for people or air to pass. So, swing wide now means 'to open completely'.