swoop (redirected from swooped)

at one fell swoop and in one fell swoop

Fig. in a single incident; as a single event. (This phrase preserves the old word fell, meaning "terrible" or "deadly.") The party guests ate up all the snacks at one fell swoop. When the stock market crashed, many large fortunes were wiped out in one fell swoop.

See also: fell, one

swoop down (up)on someone or something 

1. Lit. to dive or plunge downward on someone or something. The eagle swooped down upon the lamb.

2. Fig. [for someone] to pounce on and consume something. The children swooped down on the ice cream and cake.

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at/in one fell swoop

if you do something at one fell swoop, you do everything you have to do at the same time I'd prefer to do the paperwork in one fell swoop. At least then we know it's finished with.

See also: fell, one

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in one fell swoop

all at the same time I prefer to see someone in charge so we can deal with everything in one fell swoop.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of fell swoop (a quick, sudden downward movement by an attacking bird)

See also: fell, one