Definition

1. Noun:

   • A large aquatic bird: A swan is a stately, heavy-bodied water bird characterized by a very long, graceful neck and, in most adult species, predominantly white plumage.

2. Verb:

   • To move about in a stately, leisurely, or majestic manner: To swan is to move or glide in a smooth, effortless, and often self-assured way.
   • To move about aimlessly or without a fixed destination: To swan can also mean to wander, roam, or drift without a clear purpose or direction.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The white swan glided silently across the lake.
  • Swans are often associated with grace and beauty in many cultures.

• Verb:

  • She just swanned into the party as if she owned the place.
  • After graduating, he spent a year swanning around Europe without a plan.

Advanced Usage

• "to swan about/around": To move or behave in a relaxed, confident, and sometimes idle or showy manner.
  • He spent the afternoon swanning about the garden, doing very little.

Variants and Related Words

• Swanlike (adj): Resembling or characteristic of a swan, especially in gracefulness.

  • She moved with a swanlike elegance.

• Swan song (n): A person's final public performance or professional activity before retirement. This idiom originates from the ancient belief that a swan sings a beautiful song just before it dies.

  • This concert is being billed as the legendary singer's swan song.

Synonyms

• Noun: Waterfowl, bird.
• Verb (majestic motion): Glide, sail, sweep.
• Verb (aimless motion): Wander, roam, drift, meander.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Swan off: To leave or go somewhere in a casual, unconcerned, or sudden manner.
  • He just swanned off to the beach without telling anyone.

Related Idioms

• All his geese are swans: (Proverb) He overvalues or overpraises his own possessions, ideas, or achievements. It means he thinks everything of his is wonderful.
• Swan of Avon: A literary nickname for William Shakespeare, who was born and buried in Stratford-upon-Avon, using the swan as a symbol of poetic excellence.

Noun

1. stately heavy-bodied aquatic bird with very long neck and usually white plumage as adult

Verb

1. sweep majestically
   • Airplanes were swanning over the mountains
2. move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
   • The gypsies roamed the woods
   • roving vagabonds
   • the wandering Jew
   • The cattle roam across the prairie
   • the laborers drift from one town to the next
   • They rolled from town to town
3. to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
   • Before God I swear I am innocent