Word
swat
US/ˈswɑt/
UK/swˈɒt/
Definitions
01to hit an insect
v. to hit something, especially an insect, with a quick, sharp blow using your hand or a flat object.
v. to strike or bat away with a sharp, sudden blow, typically directed at an insect or small object.
“He tried to swat the fly that was buzzing around his head.”
“The tennis player instinctively swatted the stray ball away from the court during a break in the match.”
Usage
often used with 'at' when the attempt is unsuccessful.
02to prank with police
v. to make a fake emergency call so that a special police team is sent to someone's house as a dangerous joke.
v. to deceptively report a high-stakes emergency to emergency services to trigger the deployment of a SWAT team to a victim's address.
“The streamer was terrified when someone tried to swat him during a live broadcast.”
“Law enforcement agencies have increased penalties for individuals who attempt to swat others, citing the extreme danger to both victims and officers.”
Slang · American English
Usage
transitive verb requiring a person as the direct object.
04a sharp blow
n. a quick, hard hit or slap.
n. a sharp, sudden blow or stroke delivered with a flat object or the palm of the hand.
“She gave the mosquito a quick swat before it could bite her.”
“With one powerful swat of its paw, the bear knocked the wooden lid off the container.”
Literary
Real-World Examples
“Conradt killed himself as a local Swat team entered, with the television crew outside.” “Bosnia and Herzegovina were swatted aside in the last 32.” Etymology
From Urdu سوات (svāt).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/swat