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sweep away

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sweep someone or something away

to dispose of someone or something by pushing or brushing away. The waves nearly swept us away. The waves caused by the storm swept away all the debris on the beach.

See also: away, sweep

sweep away something

also sweep something away

1. to get rid of something You will have to sweep away all your anger in order to improve your relations with your family. There was almost no wind to sweep the smog away.

2. to destroy something The decision to close the lab meant that twenty years' work was swept away in a moment. Francis spent his last few years at home, until heart failure swept him away.

See also: away, sweep

sweep away

v.

1. To cause someone or something to be carried away by or as if by a current: The storm swept away the dock. The tornado swept the barn away. I was so swept away by the music that I forgot where I was for a moment.

2. To eliminate something all at once: The accident swept away all my dreams. When the school rejected my admissions application, I felt like they had swept all my hard work away in a matter of seconds.

See also: away, sweep