swallowing
[swˈɑloɪŋ] /ˈswä-(ˌ)lō How to pronounce swallow (audio)/ (ame, mw) · /ˈswɒl.əʊ/ (bre, ipa) · [swˈɑloɪŋ] /ˈswɑː.loʊ/ (ame, ipa)
swallowing — noun
1. a single act of moving food or drink from your mouth down into your stomach by u
a single act of moving food or drink from your mouth down into your stomach by using your throat muscles, or the amount that you move in this way
The doctor asked Lien to take a small swallow of water before the examination.
collocation: a swallow of [liquid]
Mira finished the bitter medicine in one single swallow and made a face.
After each swallow of hot soup, Gabriel felt warmth spread through his cold body.
The toddler took a careful swallow of milk from his favourite blue cup.
文法句型
a swallow + of + noun phrase
in one swallow
2. a small wild bird known for its long narrow wings and forked tail, which flies v
a small wild bird known for its long narrow wings and forked tail, which flies very fast and catches insects while in the air
A swallow landed on the telephone wire outside Olivia's kitchen window.
Every spring, swallows return from their winter migration to build nests under the roof.
common pattern: swallows return / migrate
Nila watched a swallow dive and twist through the evening sky catching moths.
The children counted seven swallows sitting side by side on the wooden fence.
A pair of swallows flew low over the river, skimming the surface for insects.
- martin
a related bird in the same family, often with a less forked tail
用法筆記
This sense is a different word historically — 'swallow' the bird comes from Old English 'swealwe', while 'swallow' the action comes from 'swelgan'. Do not confuse the two in formal writing.
常見錯誤
swallowing — verb
- swallowingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- swallowings3rd person singular
- swallowinging-ing form
- swallowingedpast simple
1. to push food, a drink, or a pill down your throat and into your stomach through
to push food, a drink, or a pill down your throat and into your stomach through controlled muscle movements
Marta chewed the bread carefully before she swallowed it.
The doctor told Sumin to swallow the pill with a full glass of water.
pattern: swallow + pill + with water
Felipe swallowed his coffee in a hurry and ran to catch the bus.
Nila found it hard to swallow the dry toast because her throat was sore.
My throat is so painful that every time I swallow it really hurts.
文法句型
swallow + noun phrase
swallow + adverb (whole/quickly)
用法筆記
When used intransitively (without an object), the focus is on the physical throat action rather than what is being swallowed.
常見錯誤
2. to move your throat muscles as though you were swallowing, because you feel nerv
to move your throat muscles as though you were swallowing, because you feel nervous, afraid, or need to say something difficult
Asher swallowed hard before stepping onto the stage to give his speech.
common collocation: swallow hard
Lien swallowed nervously when the teacher called her name in class.
Darius swallowed several times before he could answer the difficult question.
The young man swallowed and turned pale as the police officer walked towards him.
- gulp
can be used in the same way, e.g. 'He gulped.'
文法句型
swallow + adverb (hard/nervously/once)
用法筆記
This sense is nearly always intransitive — you do not 'swallow' anything real. The action itself communicates nervousness. 'Swallow hard' is the most common fixed expression.
常見錯誤
❌ 'He swallowed his fear and walked in.' — This mixes sense 6 (SUPPRESS) with sense 2 (NERVOUS GULP). Use 'He swallowed hard, then walked in.' for the nervous action.
3. when something large completely covers or takes in something smaller, making it
when something large completely covers or takes in something smaller, making it disappear or become part of itself
The thick fog swallowed the entire village, hiding it from view.
Large supermarket chains have swallowed up many small family shops in this area.
pattern: swallow up + [business]
The forest fire quickly swallowed hundreds of acres of ancient woodland.
The waves swallowed the sandcastle that Gabriel had built with his daughter.
An increasing amount of countryside is being swallowed up by expanding towns.
文法句型
be swallowed (up) + by + noun phrase
swallow (up) + noun phrase
用法筆記
The particle 'up' is optional but very common, especially in British English. In the passive voice, 'up' usually stays attached: 'was swallowed up by.'
常見錯誤
4. to consume a major share of something valuable like money, time, or supplies, so
to consume a major share of something valuable like money, time, or supplies, so that little remains for other purposes
Amani's medical bills swallowed nearly half of the family's yearly income.
pattern: [bills/expenses] swallow + [money]
The repairs on the old house swallowed every penny that Felipe had saved.
Running the air conditioner all summer swallowed a huge amount of electricity.
Taxes have swallowed up nearly half of Marta's annual pay increase.
The long commute swallows three hours of Noa's day every single morning.
- save
opposite intention — keeping resources rather than using them up
文法句型
swallow (up) + noun phrase (money/time/resources)
用法筆記
This sense always carries a negative tone — the thing being swallowed is something valuable that the speaker does not want to lose. Frequently used with 'up' as a phrasal verb.
5. to believe something that is told to you without questioning whether it is reall
to believe something that is told to you without questioning whether it is really true, even though it probably is not
Noa swallowed the salesman's story about the car being in perfect condition.
pattern: swallow + [someone's] story
Mira found that excuse very hard to swallow given what everyone else said.
common idiom: hard to swallow
The journalist refused to swallow the government's official version of events.
Sumin swallowed every word her travel guide told her without checking the facts.
- question
opposite action — to examine rather than accept
- disbelieve
direct opposite
文法句型
swallow + noun phrase (story/excuse/claim)
用法筆記
Almost always used negatively — either to criticise someone who believed a lie ('He swallowed the whole story'), or to say something is unbelievable ('That's hard to swallow'). The phrase 'hook, line, and sinker' is a common intensifier.
常見錯誤
6. to force yourself not to show or express a strong feeling such as anger, pride,
to force yourself not to show or express a strong feeling such as anger, pride, disappointment, or the desire to say something
Olivia swallowed her anger and answered her boss in a calm voice.
pattern: swallow + [emotion]
Amani swallowed her pride and asked her former classmate for a job.
common collocation: swallow one's pride
Gabriel swallowed his disappointment when his colleague got the promotion instead.
Marta swallowed a sharp reply and simply nodded without saying anything.
文法句型
swallow + noun phrase (pride/anger/disappointment)
用法筆記
The object must be an emotion or a reaction — not a person or a physical thing. Common objects: pride, anger, disappointment, frustration, annoyance, a reply, a remark.
常見錯誤
7. to admit that something you said earlier was wrong and take back your statement,
to admit that something you said earlier was wrong and take back your statement, especially because new information has proven you were mistaken
Darius had to swallow his words when the new evidence proved him completely wrong.
fixed phrase: swallow one's words
The politician was forced to swallow his earlier claims after the investigation.
The newspaper had to swallow its original story and print a full correction.
After the court ruling, the company quietly swallowed its statement about being innocent.
文法句型
swallow + possessive pronoun + words/statement
用法筆記
This sense is most often used in the fixed expression 'swallow your words.' The more general use ('swallow a statement/claim') is less common and slightly more formal. It implies an embarrassing admission of being wrong.
常見錯誤
8. to say words so quietly or unclearly that people cannot hear or understand what
to say words so quietly or unclearly that people cannot hear or understand what you said
The shy boy swallowed his words when the teacher asked him to speak up.
Lien swallowed an apology so quietly that nobody at the table heard her.
The tired old man swallowed something under his breath as he walked away.
Felipe swallowed his answer so unclearly that Noa had to ask him to repeat it.
- enunciate
to speak clearly and distinctly
文法句型
swallow + noun phrase (words/name/apology)
swallow + adverb (indistinctly)
用法筆記
This sense is much less common than the others. It is usually used with 'words' or a specific utterance as the object. The phrasal 'swallow under one's breath' is a common variant.