cut a swathe through

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.

See also: cut, swath, through

cut a swathe through

pass through something causing great damage, destruction, or change.

A swathe was the area cut by a single sweep of a mower's scythe, and so the width of a strip of grass or corn cut in this way.

See also: cut, swathe, through