sweat
1406
to work very hard on something, especially in a physical
way: I've sweated my guts out trying to get this shed built in
time.
sweat sthg. ⇔ out phr v [T] 1 to get rid of (an illness) by
causing oneself to sweat 2 sweat it out infml a) to take hard
exercise: They were sweating it out in the gym. b) to suffer
an unpleasant situation until it ends: The young medical
student hated watching his first operation, but he had to sweat
it out.
sweat² n 1 [U] also perspiration fml or euph liquid which
comes out from the body through the skin to cool it: I was
covered in sweat/dripping with sweat after playing foot-
ball. 2 [S] infml an anxious state: It's really quite a simple
task; there's no need to get in a sweat about it. 3 [S] infml hard
and usually uninteresting work: This job's quite a sweat; I'm
exhausted already. 4 [C] old-fash infml a person of great experi-
ence, especially a soldier (in the phrase old sweat) 5 no
sweat infml (used for saying that something will not cause any
difficulty): 'Are you sure you can do it in time?' 'No sweat.' →
see also COLD SWEAT
sweat·band /'swetbænd/ n a narrow piece of material a)
sewn or stuck round the inside of a hat to prevent damage
by sweat b) worn round the wrist or forehead to prevent
sweat running down, especially during sport
sweat·ed /'swetɪd/ adj [A] derog done by workers forced to
work long hours for little money: sweated labour
sweat·er /'swetər/ n a knitted (KNIT) usually woollen GAR-
MENT for the top of the body, without buttons or other
fastenings and pulled on over the head → compare CARDI-
GAN and see also JERSEY, JUMPER, PULLOVER
'sweat gland n any of the many small organs under the skin
from which liquid comes out to cool the skin
'sweat pants n AmE thick cotton trousers worn during sports,
usually having string to hold them at the waist (a DRAW-
STRING) and elastic at the ankles
sweats /swets/ n [P] AmE infml 1 a set of clothes made of
thick soft cotton, usually worn for playing sports 2 pants of
this type
sweat·shirt /'swet-ʃɜːt||-ʃɜːrt/ n a thick cotton GARMENT
with long SLEEVES worn on the upper part of the body
sweat·shop /'swet-ʃɒp||-ʃɑːp/ n derog a factory or work-
room where workers are employed for long hours and low
pay often in bad conditions
sweat·y /'sweti/ adj 1 covered in or containing sweat: I
shook his sweaty hand. 2 smelly with sweat: sweaty
socks 3 unpleasantly hot; causing one to sweat: a sweaty
day/job —iness n [U]
swede /swiːd/ BrE || rutabaga AmE — n [C;U] a round yellow
vegetable like a large TURNIP
Swede n someone who comes from Sweden
Swe·den /'swiːdn/ a country in Scandinavia, northern
Europe. Population: 8,878,085 2003). Capital: Stockholm. It is
a member of the EU, and is known for its high standard of
living and its very generous system of WELFARE, paid for by
taxes. People from Sweden are called Swedes.
Swe·dish¹ /'swiːdɪʃ/ n [U] 1 the language spoken in Swe-
den 2 the Swedish the people of Sweden
Swedish² adj from or connected with Sweden
Swee·ney, the /'swiːni/ n BrE slang the FLYING SQUAD, a
special group in the Metropolitan Police in London. There
was a popular British television show called The Sweeney in
the 1970s, about officers in the Flying Squad. Its stories were
full of violence, action, people being chased in cars etc.
Sweeney 'Todd → see TODD, SWEENEY
sweep¹ /swiːp/ v swept /swept/ 1 [T] to clean (a floor or
similar surface) using a brush: He swept the room/the path. |
She swept the floor clean. → see USAGE 2 [T+obj+adv/prep] a)
to remove by brushing: She swept all the dead leaves off the
patio. b) to remove or move with a brushing or swinging
movement: The wind swept the leaves away. | He swept the
papers into a drawer. 3 [I+adv/prep;T] to move quickly and
powerfully (all over): The crowd swept through the gates. |
Thunderstorms swept the whole country. | A wave of panic
swept over her. | (fig.) The new dance craze swept the country.
(=was soon popular everywhere) 4 [T+obj+adv/prep] to carry
along quickly and powerfully: They were swept into power
on a wave of anti-union feeling. | We were swept along by the
crowd. 5 [I+adv/prep] (of a person) to move quickly in a
proud or determined way: She swept angrily out of the
room. | He swept past the journalists without stopping to talk
to any of them. | (fig.) He swept to victory in the elections. (=he
won easily) 6 [I+adv/prep] to be or lie in a curve across land;
STRETCH: The railway line sweeps round the bend in the
valley. | The hills sweep down to the sea. 7 [T] to move across
while watching or giving a view of: The old man's eyes swept
the horizon. 8 sweep the board to win (easily) everything
that can be won: I swept the board at the casino last
night. 9 sweep someone off their feet a) to cause some-
one to fall suddenly in love with one b) to persuade
someone completely and suddenly: The people were swept off
their feet by the force of the speaker's arguments. 10 sweep
something under the carpet BrE/under the rug AmE to keep
(something bad or shocking) secret → see also CLEAN
(USAGE)
USAGE Compare brush and sweep. You can brush any
surface (a shelf, a coat, your teeth, the floor etc) using
especially a brush with a short handle, held in one hand.
You sweep a floor, a yard etc, using a brush with a long
handle, held in two hands.
sweep sthg. ⇔ aside phr v [T] to refuse to pay any
attention to: All our objections were swept aside.
sweep sthg. ⇔ away phr v [T] to remove or destroy
completely: All these ancient privileges will be swept away
when the revolution comes. | (fig.) I was swept away (=com-
pletely persuaded) by her enthusiasm.
sweep up phr v 1 [I;T(sweep sthg. ⇔ up)] to clean a place,
especially by sweeping (waste from) the floor: After all the
guests had left, I swept up (all the mess). 2 [T(sweep sbdy. ⇔ up)]
to pick up in one quick powerful flowing movement: She
swept the child up in her arms and ran off.
sweep² n 1 an act of sweeping: This floor needs a good
sweep. 2 a long swinging movement of the arm with a
weapon etc: With a sweep of his sword he cut through the
rope. 3 [C usually sing.] a long curved line or area of country:
The long sweep of the distant hills could just be seen. | (fig.) I
was most impressed by the broad sweep of her argument.
(=covering all parts of the subject) 4 an act of moving out
over a broad area to search, attack etc: The rescue services did
one last sweep to try and find the missing yachtsman. 5 infml for
SWEEPSTAKE: I won £2 in the office sweep. 6 infml for CHIMNEY-
SWEEP → see also CLEAN SWEEP
Sweep → see SOOTY AND SWEEP
sweep·er /'swiːpər/ n 1 a person or thing that sweeps: a
road sweeper 2 BrE (in football) a player who defends from
behind other defending players
sweep·ing /'swiːpɪŋ/ adj 1 including or having an effect on
many things; EXTENSIVE: sweeping plans/changes 2 showing
a lack of consideration of facts or details; too general: a
sweeping statement/generalization —ly adv
sweep·ings /'swiːpɪŋz/ n [P] dirt, dust etc, which is left to
be swept up
sweep·stake /'swiːpsteɪk/ also sweep infml — n a form of
betting (BET), usually on a horserace, in which those who
hold tickets for the winners win all the money paid by those
who bought tickets
sweet¹ /swiːt/ adj 1 having a taste like that of sugar: a sweet
apple | This tea is too sweet. (=contains too much sugar) | Do
you like sweet or dry wine? → compare BITTER, SOUR 2 pleas-
ing to the senses: sweet music | (fig.) the sweet smell of
success 3 (especially of small or young things) charming,
lovable: Your little boy looks very sweet in his new
coat. 4 gentle, kind, or attractive in manner: a sweet
temper/smile | How sweet of you to remember my birth-
day. 5 [F+on] old-fash infml in love with —ly adv —ness n [U]
sweet² n 1 [C] BrE || usually candy AmE — a small piece of
sweet food made of sugar or chocolate etc: Eating sweets is
bad for your teeth. 2 [C;U] BrE || dessert AmE — sweet food
served at the end of a meal: Are we having any sweet? | Ice
cream is my favourite sweet. 3 becoming rare (used when speak-
ing to a loved one): Don't cry, my sweet.
,sweet-and-'sour adj [A] (of a SAUCE or a food prepared
with it, especially in Chinese cooking) having both sweet
and sour tastes together: sweet-and-sour pork