swipe

Everyday

1. To swipe a screen is to move your finger across it to change what is shown: swipe left. tree →
2. To swipe a card is to pass it through or over a reader to pay or open a door. tree →
3. To swipe at someone or something is to hit or try to hit with a big swinging movement. tree →
4. (informal) To swipe something is to steal it quickly: someone swiped my pen. tree →
5. A swipe is an unkind comment that criticises someone: he took a swipe at his rival. tree →

In the lessons

Everyday technology: swiping on phones and tablets; «swipe card» for school gates or buses. Online safety: think before you swipe to share or accept anything. Stories: a bear swiped at the fish; a cat took a swipe at the dog. News: politicians «take a swipe» at each other.

Examples

• Swipe left to see the next photo. tree →
• Mum swiped her card to pay. tree →
• The cat swiped at the string. tree →
• Someone swiped my rubber! (informal) tree →
• The bear took a swipe at the beehive. tree →
• The coach took a swipe at the referee in his interview. tree →
• You need a swipe card to get into the building. tree →

Note

Spelling: swipe drops e before -ing: swiping; past: swiped. The «steal» sense is informal; in formal writing say «stole». Similar: swish, swat (hit), nick (UK slang for steal).