English Explanatory Dictionary

in one foul swoop

English dictionary entry

Meanings

prep_phrase
  1. (Achieved or completed) with a single action; in a single stroke.

Word forms

in one foul swoop

Etymology

Mondegreen variant of in one fell swoop, where "fell" (of a strong and cruel nature; eager and unsparing; grim; fierce; ruthless; savage) is misheard as "foul" (disgusting) or "fowl" (a bird).

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