cut a swathe through something

cut a swath through (something)

To cause a lot of damage or suffering in a specific area or population. It seems that the high winds cut a swath through our neighborhood last night, blowing down trees and power lines on nearly every street. Severe malnourishment has certainly cut a swath through this part of the globe. The wildfires have cut a wide swath through forests all across California.

See also: cut, swath, through

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

cut a ˈswathe through something

(of a person, fire, etc.) pass through a particular area destroying a large part of it: The new road cut a swathe through the countryside.

A swathe was the area of grass, etc. cut by one movement of a scythe (= a curved tool used for cutting grass).

See also: cut, something, swathe, through

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