swagger

/ˈswæɡə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [swˈæɡɚ] /ˈswæɡər/ (ame, ipa) · [swˈæɡɚ] /ˈswa-gər How to pronounce swagger (audio)/ (ame, mw) · /ˈswæɡ.ər/ (bre, ipa) · [swˈæɡɚ] /ˈswæɡ.ɚ/ (ame, ipa)

swagger — verb

  • swaggerpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • swaggershe / she / it
  • swaggeredpast simple
  • swaggering-ing form

1. to walk or move with an exaggeratedly confident, proud manner — lifting the ches

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to walk or move with an exaggeratedly confident, proud manner — lifting the chest, swinging the shoulders, and often drawing attention on purpose, especially after a success or to show off.

例句

Noa [swaggered off] the football pitch with a grin after scoring the winning goal in the final minute.

swaggered off [place] — leaving with confident pride

Emre [swaggered into the classroom], tossed his bag on the desk, and announced he had aced the exam.

swaggered into [place] — entering with confident manner

同義詞
  • strut

    more precisely about walking with a stiff, proud posture; swagger adds a sense of showy confidence

  • parade

    suggests showing off to an audience, often in a more organised way

  • sashay

    less common, implies a casual, smooth, or flirty movement rather than proud confidence

反義詞
  • shrink

    to move away or pull back in a timid way

  • cower

    to bend low from fear, opposite of standing tall with pride

文法句型

swagger + direction/prepositional phrase

用法筆記

Always intransitive. This sense describes a physical style of moving or carrying oneself. It is often followed by a directional phrase such as swagger into, swagger out of, swagger down, or swagger across.

常見錯誤

He swaggered the ball down the field.
He swaggered down the field after scoring.
💡swagger is intransitive; it takes no direct object.

2. to force someone to do something by using threats, aggressive language, or an ov

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to force someone to do something by using threats, aggressive language, or an overpowering manner that makes them feel afraid or powerless — for example, a landlord swaggering tenants into accepting a rent increase.

例句

Tunde's boss tried to [swagger him into working] every weekend by hinting that his job was on the line.

swagger + someone + into + doing something

Bao refused to be [swaggered into signing] the contract just because the salesman raised his voice and pounded the table.

同義詞
  • bully

    broader and more common; swagger suggests using an aggressive, dominating presence rather than physical force

  • intimidate

    focuses on making someone afraid rather than directly forcing action

  • browbeat

    implies persistent verbal pressure and threats

反義詞
  • encourage

    to give support and confidence rather than fear

  • persuade

    to convince through reason rather than intimidation

文法句型

swagger + someone + into + doing something

用法筆記

This sense is much less common than the 'strut proudly' meaning. It is always transitive and typically uses the pattern 'swagger someone into doing something' to express the action the person is forced to take.

常見錯誤

He swaggered the contract.
He swaggered them into signing the contract.
💡the object is the person, not the thing being forced.

swagger — noun

swagger — adjective