Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to sweep off

to sweep off

21 5.6
To make someone feel a sudden strong feeling, often romantic
  • phrasal verb
  • /swip ɔf/
  • Informal
translation icon : dejar sin aliento
  • I was swept off my feet, as the saying goes, for I had never expected to make such a match.
  • swept off her feet

And it completely sweeps her off her feet and then marries her.

Examples

  • That romantic gesture was sure to sweep her off her feet.

  • We are gonna sweep this kid right off his feet.

    Mirror Mirror (2012)

  • And if you like to dance in these streets, this night might sweep you off your feet.

  • Okay, so he swept you off your feet.

    Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)

  • "Just long enough to sweep me off my feet," she always said.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • I could say that we were both swept off our feet.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Don't you just come in here and sweep me off my feet.

    Starting Over (1979)

  • And when JJ swept her off her feet with his looks, charm and style, well, whatever.

    Gracie (2015)

  • And then he would leap up from his low bow in an unrestrained fit of passion and sweep her off her feet.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • She's afraid you'll be swept off your feet like she was and marry the wrong person.

    Main Street (2010)

Synonyms

to hit
vsto sweep off
∞ 2.8

To suddenly make someone feel a strong emotion

is generally emotional and not necessarily negative in tone
to seize
vsto sweep off
77 4.8

Feel a sudden strong emotion or pain

focuses on emotional overwhelm rather than physical pain or conditions
to overtake
vsto sweep off
29 5.1

To suddenly have a strong feeling that you cannot control

does not always imply loss of control despite the strong emotional effect
to sweep over
vsto sweep off
8 4.6

A strong feeling that affects someone suddenly

is used more widely for people or emotions causing the effect
to sweep away
vsto sweep off
7 4.6

To feel very strong emotions that you cannot control

is sudden and strong rather than only being carried away by feelings
to sweep up
vsto sweep off
7 5.8

To get carried into a situation and take part without meaning to

describes sudden emotional overwhelm rather than general unintended involvement
to hit like a tidal wave
vsto sweep off
7.3

To suddenly feel a very strong emotion that you cannot control

is similar but less metaphorical, focusing on sudden emotional overwhelm
to sweep off someone's feet
vsto sweep off
  • Informal
4.5

Make someone feel very impressed and strongly attracted

means sudden strong emotional overwhelm, not limited to charm or romance

Antonyms

to calm
962 1.0

Make a person or animal less upset

to comfort
172 1.0

To make someone feel less upset or in pain

How Overwhelming

to overwhelm
164 4.4
to sweep off
  • Informal
21 5.6
to move
668 3.4
to touch
680 2.9

Surface Forms

sweep off infinitive
sweeping off present participle
sweeps off third person singular
swept off past
swept off past participle

Morphology

sweep + off

The literal meanings of 'sweep' (to force or move along) and 'off' (away/removal) give a plausible image of being physically carried away, so a learner could infer a sense of being suddenly taken away or overwhelmed. However, the emotional/figurative sense (to overwhelm someone emotionally or romantically) is a metaphorical extension rather than a directly predictable composition, so it is only partially transparent and benefits from prior exposure.

Etymology

Sweep off: The phrasal verb sweep off comes from the clear image of something strong, like a broom or a wave, that sweeps someone off their feet. So, that sudden physical picture explains why sweep off now means to suddenly 'overwhelm' someone with feeling or surprise.