swing for

The phrase "swing for" originates from the historical practice of hanging as a form of punishment and has evolved to have multiple informal meanings.

Definition

B2General

(informal, idiom)To be punished severely.

Example

If you get caught, you'll swing for it.

C1Historical

(informal, hyperbolic)To be hanged for a crime, especially murder.

Example

In the old days, you could swing for stealing a horse.

B2Violence

(informal, old-fashioned)To attempt to hit someone with a swinging motion.

Example

He was so angry he looked like he was about to swing for me.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "swing for":

swing out swing trot swing for the fences reverse swing swinging dick come out swinging go to bat bat around hit a home run strike in strike a stroke strike out bang around hit one out of the ballpark come to bat swing shift hit out hit and hope strike a blow bang away hit it for six hit it home run play pendulum change up bat away up to bat throw hands hit the ball twice play ball hang one on