sway

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hold sway (over someone)

To have or exert great control or influence (over someone). My father retired from politics years ago, but he still holds sway in the town to this day. It is suspected that the president's wife holds a lot of sway over the administration's policy.

sway back and forth

to swing or bend from one direction to another. The pendulum swayed back and forth, counting off the seconds. Mary was swaying back and forth, keeping time to the music.

sway from side to side

to swing or bend from one side to the other. The car swayed from side to side as we started out, indicating that something was seriously wrong. He swayed from side to side with the rhythm of the music.

sway someone to something

to convince someone to do something. I think I can sway her to join our side. We could not sway Ted to our position.

hold sway over

Dominate, have a controlling influence over, as in He held sway over the entire department. This idiom uses the noun sway in the sense of "power" or "dominion," a usage dating from the late 1500s.

hold ˈsway (over somebody/something)

(literary) (of a person, a movement, an idea, etc.) have power, control or great influence over somebody/something: Rebel forces hold sway over much of the island. ♢ These ideas held sway for most of the century.

hold sway

To have a controlling influence; dominate.

See also: hold, sway

References in periodicals archive ?

For study 2, percent change was calculated to assess the change in postural sway measurements from baseline to posttraining.

Novel balance rehabilitation and training apparatus to improve functional balance

8220;We are the only exclusively-women focused eyewear company offering this unique way to try-on glasses at home, plus a personal stylist to ensure our female fans make the best frame selection possible that will really make her shine,” said Sarah Bryar, Vice President of Product for Rivet & Sway.

Stylish Glasses for Women: Rivet & Sway Adds New Home Try-on Frame

This study examined the velocity of postural sway during single leg stance when using axillary and forearm crutches.

Axillary or forearm crutches: comparing postural sway in single leg stance and perceptions of safety

There was no significant difference between pretreatment and post-treatment anteroposterior and mediolateral sway (P > 0.

Perceptual learning exercises: an adjunct to balance exercises for normal healthy geriatric population

Sound-evoked activation of the vestibular system and the resulting postural responses lead to increasing of the body sway in the coronal plane at low and middle frequencies and in the closed-eyes condition [12].

Posturographic study of the human body vibrations for clinical diagnostics of the spine and joint pathology/Zmogaus kuno virpesiu posturografinis tyrimas stuburo ir sanariu patologijoms diagnozuoti

Beyond the political sway that Jewish fundamentalism has by virtue of its representation in the Israeli Knesset, "significant number of Israeli Jews who are not fundamentalists identify and support" some of their demands that would inevitably hinder any possibility of peace such as the building of the Temple (p.

Shahak, Israel and Norton Mezvisnky. Jewish Fundamentalism in Israel, 2d ed

The older adults were able to complete the prolonged standing task but produced smaller postural adjustments and less sway than the younger adults.

Postural control during prolonged standing

Very large wind loads can result if the vortex shedding rate matches the building sway rate.

How to ensure your high-rise won't be gone with the wind

You're on Sway and King Tech's new album Back to Basics?

Crooked I

One or two physicians who were having good experiences with a drug would sway an entire group of skeptics.

The history of word of mouth marketing

The Greek Orthodox Church holds great sway over the nation's government and is Greece's official religion.

Greeks back separation after Orthodox church scandals

that require excess sway space for deflection during a shock input.

Halogen-free molding material

In an earthquake or strong winds of up to 25 m/sec, sway is reduced by 75% to provide greater comfort for tenants.

Tokyo's office stock vulnerable in a major quake: no municipal vision, few buildings meeting the latest safety construction codes

Trailer Sway Mitigation works in combination with ESC to apply the tow vehicle's brakes in a proprietary sequence that prevents side-to-side trailer oscillations.

Extended stability control: suppliers are adding greater functionality to electronic stability control systems to improve safety and entice car buyers to check the ESC option box

King of Cats: A Life in Five Novellas is a story comprised of five mini-arcs that weave together human lives, rock-n-roll and the inordinately powerful sway that fathers have over the lives of their sons.