The idiom "in one fell swoop" means to do something all at once, in a single action or event, without any delay or hesitation. It is often used to describe a sudden and complete action that achieves a goal or solves a problem quickly and efficiently.
For example, if someone says "I cleaned my entire house in one fell swoop," it means that they cleaned the entire house in a single effort, without taking any breaks or doing it in stages. Similarly, if a company announces that it is laying off all its employees in one fell swoop, it means that all the employees will be let go at the same time, without any gradual or phased approach.
The phrase "in one fell swoop" is believed to have originated from Shakespeare's play "Macbeth," where the character Macduff uses it to describe the killing of his family by Macbeth's henchmen. Over time, the phrase has become a common idiom in English language and is used in both formal and informal contexts.
• The new company policy aims to increase productivity and reduce costs in one fell swoop.
• The company's acquisition of its competitor allowed them to expand their market share in one fell swoop.
• In one fell swoop, I cleaned my room and put away all my toys.
• By winning the championship, the team in one fell swoop proved their critics wrong.
• The artist's latest masterpiece sold out in one fell swoop, cementing their reputation as a world-renowned painter.
• The government's decision to increase taxes has affected the economy in one fell swoop.
• The company's decision to restructure its entire business model in one fell swoop was risky but ultimately successful.
• The team scored three goals in one fell swoop, completely changing the course of the game.
• The company was able to eliminate all its competitors in one fell swoop by acquiring them.
• The new policy will change the entire healthcare system in one fell swoop, causing a lot of controversy.
• The president's executive order will affect millions of citizens in one fell swoop, leading to protests and legal challenges.
• I cleaned my room in one fell swoop, it is now very tidy.