Definition

1. Noun:

   • A glancing blow delivered from or on the side of something, especially involving motor vehicles.
   • A critical remark or attack made indirectly or as a secondary point.

2. Verb:

   • To strike with a glancing blow from the side.
   • To criticize or attack indirectly.

Usage

• As a Noun: Used to describe a specific type of collision or an incidental criticism.
• As a Verb: Used to describe the action of hitting something from the side or making a passing critical comment.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The car suffered only a minor dent from the sideswipe.
  • His speech included a sideswipe at the government's economic policies.
• Verb:
  • The bus sideswiped a parked car while trying to turn.
  • The article sideswipes several popular trends without examining them in depth.

Advanced Usage

• "to take a sideswipe at (someone/something)": To make an indirect critical remark about someone or something.
  • The comedian took a sideswipe at celebrity culture during his routine.

Variants and Related Words

• Sideswiping (gerund/noun): The act of striking from the side or making an indirect criticism.
  • The accident was caused by a sideswiping maneuver.

Synonyms

• Noun (for a blow): Glancing blow, scrape, graze.
• Noun (for a remark): Barb, dig, indirect criticism.
• Verb (to hit): Scrape, graze, clip.
• Verb (to criticize): Jab at, take a dig at, make a passing criticism.

Related Phrases

• A passing sideswipe: A brief, indirect criticism made in passing.
  • He couldn't resist a passing sideswipe at his rival's proposal.

Noun

1. a glancing blow from or on the side of something (especially motor vehicles)

Verb

1. strike from the side