"One Fell Swoop" Meaning, Origin and Examples • 7ESL

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You may have heard the term ‘one fell swoop’ being used in a conversation. But what is the meaning of this phrase and where did it first come from? We are going to answer both of these questions as well as looking at how this term can be used in a conversation.

“One Fell Swoop” Meaning, Origin and Usage

Key Takeaways

The phrase “one fell swoop” refers to a single, swift action that accomplishes a lot at once, often with an implication of suddenness and decisiveness. It suggests that something significant is achieved or an important change occurs in a single moment or effort.

“One Fell Swoop” Meaning

The phrase “one fell swoop” means to do something all at once or in a single, swift action. It conveys the idea of accomplishing a task quickly and efficiently, often with a sense of suddenness or decisiveness.

Examples:

“We managed to clean the entire house in one fell swoop before the guests arrived.”
“The company made several changes to its policy in one fell swoop.”

Origin of The Idiomatic Phrase

The origin of this phrase can be traced back to Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth,” written in the early 17th century. In the play, the character Macduff uses the phrase to express the sudden and complete loss of his family: “All my pretty chickens and their dam at one fell swoop.” The word “fell” in this context means fierce or deadly, enhancing the sense of abruptness and impact.

Usage of “One Fell Swoop”

In a discussion about a sudden change:

“The new policy eliminated several positions in one fell swoop, leaving many employees in shock.”

Talking about a quick decision:

“She managed to organize the entire event in one fell swoop, impressing everyone with her efficiency.”

During a conversation about major life changes:

“After years of saving, he was able to pay off all his debts in one fell swoop.”

In a humorous context:

“When I accidentally deleted all my files, I realized I had lost everything in one fell swoop.”

Related Terms to “One Fell Swoop”

In one go – doing something in a single attempt or action without breaks.
All at once – simultaneously; occurring or done at the same time.
In a single stroke – achieving something with one decisive action or decision.
Swiftly – quickly and smoothly; without delay.
With a flourish – performing something with style or dramatic effect in one action.
Quickly and efficiently – completing a task rapidly and effectively.
In one fell swoop – a variation emphasizing the same sense of suddenness and completeness.
All in one – consolidating multiple elements or tasks into a single action or solution.
In a heartbeat – very quickly; almost instantly.
At once – immediately; simultaneously.

Other Ways to Say “One Fell Swoop”

There are many other ways in which you can express the meaning of the term ‘one fell swoop.’

Here are some examples of other things that you can say which mean the same thing.

All in one go
In a single shot
With one blow
One shot
Same time

“One Fell Swoop” Examples

Examples in Statements

This is a statement being made by someone in the workplace.

‘I am going home early since I did all those jobs in one fell swoop.’

Here is a statement being made by an MP.

‘I cannot make all the changes in one fell swoop but I will try my very best.’

Other examples:

The white bilge number is broken at one fell swoop.
The tornado destroyed the whole city at one fell swoop.
Only a foolish politician would promise to lower the rate of inflation and reduce unemployment at one fell swoop.

Conversation Examples

If you are wondering how the saying ‘one fell swoop’ can be used in day to day conversation, here are some examples to show how it would sound.

The first conversation is happening between two friends.

Person 1: “I have so much to do before we go to the party tonight.”
Person 2: “Do you need me to help?”
Person 1: “Yes, with two of us we might get it all done in one fell swoop.”

This next conversation is taking place between some people in a factory.

Person 1: “What products do we have left to make?”
Person 2: “The chocolate eggs and the chocolate frogs.”
Person 1: “If we use two machines we will get them both done in one fell swoop.”

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Liam Daniel

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