to swan
- verb
- /swɑn/
- Informal
- They pout and swan around, cleaning up tables, and go home to dress up as women.
- swan around
- swan dive
A lone swan Swans up the river at Old Saybrook.
- A lone swan Swans up the river at Old Saybrook.
Examples
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They spent their vacation swaning along the beach, taking in the sun and the sound of the waves.
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Do you really expect me to just sit here while you swan off with another man on a honeymoon?
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Before we start the picnic, why do you think it's safe for us to swan about out here?
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Your parents wouldn't let you swan off like that, would they?
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You swan around here like nothing's ever happened.
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Who do you suppose pays for him to swan around Biarritz for six months of the year?
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Mitt just can't expect to swan in and be at the same level as a Kriss Akabusi.
Blog text (23) -
She loves to swan around the city, exploring new cafes and parks on sunny afternoons.
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Every weekend, he would swan about the farmers' market, enjoying the fresh produce and local crafts.
Synonyms
Move around without a fixed direction, often slowly and in curves
To move slowly without a clear direction, for example when air or water move something
Move around without a fixed place, often while looking for something
To move from place to place without a fixed home or plan
To travel around without a fixed plan, often looking for something
To walk for pleasure without a fixed route
To roam around for pleasure without a clear plan
To move from place to place without a home
Antonyms
Idioms
Compounds
A dive where the diver arches their back and stretches their arms before entering the water
A large white bird with a long neck that lives on lakes and rivers and is quieter than other swans
- Australian
A plant from western Australia that lives for one year and has bright white, blue or purple flowers
- Australian
A small Australian plant that lives for one year with light pink flowers that hang down
How Leisurely
- Informal
Surface Forms
Etymology
Swan as a verb comes from the image of the bird moving slowly and proudly. A helpful way to remember it is to picture a swan 'gliding' without hurry, so to swan around means to move about in a slow, relaxed way.