student asking question

What does "sweep [something/someone] up" mean?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

To "sweep" someone or something "up" means to pick them up easily and quickly in one motion. It also means to "sweep up" or clean with a broom. There's a phrase "sweep you off your feet" that means to be attracted to someone in a romantic way. Ex: He drove three hours to see me for my birthday. He swept me off my feet. Ex: Can you sweep up the mess on the floor, please? Ex: I swept up my kids into my arms when I got home. I had missed them.

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