swipes

A man grimaces after taking a sip of cheap swipes at a dimly lit bar.

Definition

1. Noun (plural):

   • A sweeping or brushing motion: "swipes" refers to quick, sweeping movements, often of a hand or object across a surface.
   • A harsh or critical remark: In informal usage, "swipes" can mean sharp, critical comments or verbal attacks.
   • A type of cheap or cloudy beer: According to one definition, "swipes" is a plural noun meaning low-quality, cloudy beer or ale (archaic or dialectal).

2. Verb (third-person singular simple present):

   • To strike with a sweeping motion: "swipes" means to hit or move with a broad, sweeping gesture, often with the hand.
   • To steal or take quickly: Informally, "swipes" can mean to steal or take something stealthily.
   • To pass a magnetic card through a reader: "swipes" refers to the action of sliding a card through a machine to read data.

Usage Examples

• Noun (sweeping motion):

  • The cat took a few swipes at the dangling string. (Quick, sweeping hits with its paw.)
  • He wiped the table with a few quick swipes of a cloth. (Broad, brushing motions.)

• Noun (critical remark):

  • Her speech was full of swipes at the government's policies. (Sharp, critical comments directed at the government.)

• Noun (cheap beer):

  • They drank pints of swipes at the old tavern. (A low-quality, cloudy beer, now rarely used.)

• Verb (sweeping motion):

  • She swipes her hand across the screen to unlock the phone. (She makes a sweeping motion with her hand.)

• Verb (stealing):

  • Someone swiped my wallet from the table. (Someone stole my wallet quickly and stealthily.)

• Verb (card reader):

  • He swipes his credit card at the checkout. (He slides the card through the machine.)

Advanced Usage

• "to take a swipe at someone": to make a critical or hostile remark toward someone.

  • During the debate, the candidate took a swipe at his opponent's record. (He made a sharp criticism.)

• "swipe left/right": in digital contexts, to slide a finger across a touchscreen to indicate a choice (e.g., on dating apps).

  • She swiped left to reject the profile. (She made a leftward sweeping motion to indicate disinterest.)

Variants and Related Words

• Swiping (present participle): the act of making a sweeping motion.

  • He was swiping through photos on his phone. (He was making quick sweeping gestures to browse.)

• Swiper (noun): a person or thing that swipes (e.g., a thief or a card reader).

  • The swiper stole several items from the store. (A thief who steals quickly.)

Synonyms

• Sweep: a broad, continuous motion (noun or verb).
• Strike: a hit or blow (noun or verb).
• Criticism: a negative remark (noun, for "swipes" as verbal attack).
• Steal: to take without permission (verb, for "swipes" as theft).

Phrasal Verbs

• Swipe at: to attempt to hit or criticize someone or something.
  • The child swiped at the toy but missed. (He tried to grab or hit it with a sweeping motion.)

Related Idioms

• Swipe off: to remove something quickly with a sweeping motion.
  • He swiped the dust off the shelf. (He cleaned it with a quick, broad motion.)