swish

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   sophisticated

   sophisticated; fashionable; smooth.

   • This restaurant looks very swish — it even has linen tablecloths.
   • All the shabby railway buildings in front of the station concourse have either been removed or transformed into a shopping complex and swish homes.
2. 2

   Attractive, stylish

   • When the boys go swish, they always score
   • The Saints, who started the day third in the table, went marching on thanks to their own swish play and some staggering defending by the visitors.
3. 3

   Effeminate.

4. ›+ 16 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      A short rustling, hissing or whistling sound, often made by friction.

   2. 5

      A hissing, sweeping movement through the air, as of an animal's tail.

      • As she trotted down the white path, each swish of her tail sent petals dancing through the air, falling where the bride would walk.
   3. 6

      A sound of liquid flowing, especially inside a container.

   4. 7

      A twig or bundle of twigs, used for administering beatings

      A twig or bundle of twigs, used for administering beatings; a switch

   5. 8

      A successful basketball shot that does not touch the rim or backboard.

   6. 9

      A rapid or careless attacking stroke by the batter.

   7. 10

      An effeminate male homosexual.

      • "Fairies, nances, swishes, fags, lezzes — call 'em what you please — should of course be permitted to earn honest livings […]
   8. 11

      Effeminacy, effeminate or homosexual demeanor.

      • He got a little swish downriver.
   9. 12

      An improvised alcoholic drink made by fermenting whatever ingredients are available.

   10. 13

       To make a rustling sound while moving.

       • The cane swishes.
   11. 14

       To flourish with a swishing sound.

       • to swish a cane back and forth
       • And backward and forward he swish'd his long tail / As a gentleman swishes his cane.
   12. 15

       To flog

       To flog; to lash.

       • After Virginia came the twins, who were usually called "the Star and Stripes", as they were always getting swished.
       • Doctor Wordsworth and assistants would swish that error out of him in a way that need not here be mentioned.
   13. 16

       To make a successful basketball shot that does not touch the rim or backboard.

   14. 17

       To mince or otherwise to behave in an effeminate manner.

       • I shall not swish; I'll merely act limp-wristed.
       • Therefore, I couldn't imagine the men I would be attracted to attracted in turn to someone who was effeminate. Ergo, I'd better not swish — not if I wanted the kind of sexual partners I thought I did.
   15. 18

       To cause a liquid to move around in a container, or in one's mouth.

       • Swish the mouthwash around the mouth and between the teeth for one minute.
   16. 19

       A hissing or whistling sound of something travelling quickly through the air.

       • "Just like parade it had been a minute before then stumble, bang, swish! Wiped out!" he said.

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