# sweeping

**URL:** <https://eijil.com/t/topic/224>\
**Category:** 英语词汇\
**Created:** [September 29, 2021, 9:01am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/topic/224 "2021-09-29T09:01:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tristan](https://eijil.com/user_avatar/eijil.com/tristan/32/986_2.png) [@Tristan](https://eijil.com/u/Tristan)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 9:01am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/topic/224/1 "2021-09-29T09:01:06Z")

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词性：adj.  
音标：[ˈswipɪŋ]  
释义：彻底的，全面的，大规模的，范围广的，影响大的；一概而论的说法/笼统的说法(贬义)；弯曲的，弧线的

Something that’s _sweeping_ is wide-ranging or thorough. A political candidate might campaign on promises to bring _sweeping_ change to a country.

Sweeping things can be extensive, like the sweeping powers a president has in a dictatorship, or curving, like the sweeping motion a dancer makes with his arm. _Sweeping_ can also mean “overly broad,” so if you make a sweeping generalization, you take a general idea or rule and apply it too widely, without allowing any exceptions to it.

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**Author:** ![Tristan](https://eijil.com/user_avatar/eijil.com/tristan/32/986_2.png) [@Tristan](https://eijil.com/u/Tristan)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 10:54am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/topic/224/5 "2024-05-30T10:54:02Z")

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@Chatbot 你是一个英语教学的大师，你会用通俗易懂的方式给学生讲解各类英语知识，现在请你给我解释下上面帖子中我着重讲解的单词，介绍下这些单词在正式文书和口语中的各类含义，各举几个地道，自然的例子。介绍下这些单词的来历，以及我如何才能记住这些单词呢？

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chatbot](https://eijil.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Chatbot](https://eijil.com/u/Chatbot)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 10:54am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/topic/224/6 "2024-05-30T10:54:27Z")

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Sure! Let’s break down the word “sweeping” as you mentioned in the context above and cover its various meanings, uses in both formal and informal contexts, examples, its origins, and tips on how to remember it.

### Definition and Pronunciation

- **词性 (Part of speech):** Adjective
- **音标 (Pronunciation):** [ˈswipɪŋ]

### Meanings

1. **Wide-ranging or Thorough (彻底的，全面的)**

2. **Large-scale (大规模的, 影响大的)**

3. **Curving (弯曲的，弧线的)**

4. **Overly Broad (一概而论的说法/笼统的说法) (often slightly negative)**

### Origin

The word “sweeping” originates from the Old English term “swāpan” which means to sweep or clean. The metaphorical meaning evolved to describe actions or changes that are broad and thorough, similar to the way a broom covers a wide area when sweeping.

### Tips to Remember the Word

1. **Visual Association:** Imagine a large broom sweeping across a vast area. This helps you remember its meanings related to extensive or wide-ranging actions.
2. **Contextual Usage:** Use it in daily conversations to describe broad changes or actions. For example, “We made sweeping changes to our project plan.”
3. **Flashcards:** Create flashcards with the word on one side and its definitions and examples on the other. Quiz yourself regularly.

### Examples

- **In formal writing:** The court’s decision had sweeping implications for future legislation.
- **In informal speech:** I made a sweeping decision to clean out all the old stuff in my garage.

By understanding these contexts and practicing them in your day-to-day language, you’ll be able to use “sweeping” naturally and effectively.