swing (redirected from gone with a swing)

be in full swing

if an event is in full swing, it has already been happening for a period of time and there is a lot of activity. When we got to Vicki's place the party was in full swing.

See also: full

get into the swing of it/things

to become familiar with an activity or situation so that you can start doing it well or enjoying it. I was just getting into the swing of things when they transferred me to another department. I hadn't worked in an office for a few years and it took me a while to get back into the swing of it.

See also: thing

go with a swing (British, old-fashioned)

if an event, especially a party, goes with a swing, it is very exciting and successful. A traditional jazz band - now that would help your party go with a swing.

it's swings and roundabouts (British & Australian, British & Australian)

something that you say to describe a situation in which there are as many advantages as there are problems. If you make more money, you have to pay more tax, so what we gain on the swings, we lose on the roundabouts. It's swings and roundabouts, really. If you save money by buying a house out of town, you pay more to travel to work.

See also: it's

not room to swing a cat (informal)

if there is not room to swing a cat in a place, that place is very small. There isn't room to swing a cat in the third room, it's so tiny. Get a sofa in the living room? You'll be lucky - there isn't room to swing a cat in there.

See also: cat, room

swing both ways (informal)

to be sexually attracted to both men and women. I've seen her out with men as well. She swings both ways, you know.

See also: both, ways

swing the lead (British & Australian, old-fashioned)

to pretend to be ill so that you do not have to work. And is she genuinely ill or is she just swinging the lead? (usually in continuous tenses)

See also: lead

swing/tip the balance

to make something more likely to happen, or to make someone more likely to succeed. They were both well-qualified for the job but Ian had more experience and that tipped the balance. The success of this film could tip the balance in favour of other British films in the future.

See also: balance, tip

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in full swing

moving quickly forward. In Moscow, a building boom is in full swing.

See also: full

swing at someone/something

to try to hit someone or something. They were arguing, and then I saw him swing at Howie. He took a swing at the window so he could get into the house, and then he remembered the key hidden under the doormat.

swing by (somewhere)

to visit a place briefly. I told Paul we'd swing by his office about five today. George said he planned to swing by later.

the swing of things

the usual way that something is done. I was just getting into the swing of things when they moved me to another department. Jim immediately began collecting samples, and I was soon in the swing of things.

Usage notes: usually used in the forms in the swing of things or into the swing of things, as in the examples

See also: thing