Collocations for "sweeping"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "sweeping" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
sweep
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.v
- sweep up the [mess, floor, room, dust]
- sweep [the mess, it] up
- sweep out the [garage, truck bed]
- sweep the [mess] into the [trash, garbage]
- sweep the mess under the [bed, rug]
- figurative: sweep [it, the scandal, the affair] under the rug
- UK, figurative: sweep the [scandal, affair] under the carpet
- figurative: it was swept under the rug
- UK, figurative: it was swept under the carpet
- swept [the child, her] up (in her arms)
- sweep you away to [paradise, a world of adventure, the sunny Mediterranean]
- [the flood, rain] swept down the [river, hill]
- [a storm, the tornado] is sweeping through (the state, the town)
- [panic, fear, an epidemic] is sweeping across [the country, the continent]
- [panic] was sweeping over him
- swept up [in, by] the [crowd, romance, storm, action, moment]
- swept away [in] the [crowd, flood, storm]
- swept (quickly) through the [room, hall]
- swept off her feet
- the floor could use a (quick) sweep
- give the floor a (quick) sweep
- [broad, long] sweeps of the broom
- a quick sweep and mop
- made a clean sweep of the elections
- won with a clean sweep
- the [road, hill] opens into a wide sweep
- UK, cricket: the batsman [tried, attempted] a sweep
- a police sweep of the [area, neighborhood]
'sweeping' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):