Swill

/swɪl/
verb

To drink something greedily or in large quantities.

They swill beer all night.
Visual representation of "swill" - To drink something greedily or in large quantities

Often appears as...

  • swill down
  • swill around
noun

Low-quality food for pigs and poultry.

The farmer mixed the grain with swill for the pigs.
Visual representation of "swill" - Low-quality food for pigs and poultry

Often appears as...

  • pig swill
  • bucket of swill
noun

Low quality or unappetizing food or drink.

This coffee tastes like swill.
Visual representation of "swill" - Low quality or unappetizing food or drink

Often appears as...

  • cheap swill
  • beer swill

Usage tips

Informal, Disapproving

verb

To rinse or wash out with a large amount of liquid.

She swilled out the cup with hot water.
Visual representation of "swill" - To rinse or wash out with a large amount of liquid

Often appears as...

  • swill out
  • swill down
verb

To drink something greedily or in large quantities.

They swill beer all night.
Visual representation of "swill" - To drink something greedily or in large quantities

Often appears as...

  • swill down
  • swill around
noun

Low-quality food for pigs and poultry.

The farmer mixed the grain with swill for the pigs.
Visual representation of "swill" - Low-quality food for pigs and poultry

Often appears as...

  • pig swill
  • bucket of swill
noun

Low quality or unappetizing food or drink.

This coffee tastes like swill.
Visual representation of "swill" - Low quality or unappetizing food or drink

Often appears as...

  • cheap swill
  • beer swill

Usage tips

Informal, Disapproving

verb

To rinse or wash out with a large amount of liquid.

She swilled out the cup with hot water.
Visual representation of "swill" - To rinse or wash out with a large amount of liquid

Often appears as...

  • swill out
  • swill down
Definition 1 of 4
Visual representation of "swill"
LampPro Tip 1/2

Excessive Drinking

Used to describe excessive or eager drinking, often with a negative connotation.

Illustration for Excessive Drinking
After winning the game, they went to swill champagne.
LampPro Tip 2/2

Colloquial Usage

Informal and more common in spoken English, especially in informal settings.

Illustration for Colloquial Usage
At the party, people were swilling drinks without pause.
LampPro Tip 1/2

Excessive Drinking

Used to describe excessive or eager drinking, often with a negative connotation.

Illustration for Excessive Drinking
After winning the game, they went to swill champagne.
LampPro Tip 2/2

Colloquial Usage

Informal and more common in spoken English, especially in informal settings.

Illustration for Colloquial Usage
At the party, people were swilling drinks without pause.
LampPro Tip 1/2

Excessive Drinking

Used to describe excessive or eager drinking, often with a negative connotation.

Illustration for Excessive Drinking
After winning the game, they went to swill champagne.
LampPro Tip 2/2

Colloquial Usage

Informal and more common in spoken English, especially in informal settings.

Illustration for Colloquial Usage
At the party, people were swilling drinks without pause.
Visual representation of the word "Swill"

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Video examples

Tristram Stuart: The...

I was collecting food waste from my school kitchens, collecting these big yellow buckets of swill, all the stuff that my school friends had turned their noses up at, and I fed them to my pigs. I went to the local baker, and green grocer and markets, and also to a farmer who was throwing away potatoes that were wrong shape or size for the supermarkets.

Video examples

How caffeine and alcohol...

It could be that almost a quarter of that caffeine is still swilling around in your brain at midnight. And as a result, it can make it harder for an individual to fall asleep or even stay asleep soundly throughout the night.

Video examples

Tristram Stuart: The...

I was collecting food waste from my school kitchens, collecting these big yellow buckets of swill, all the stuff that my school friends had turned their noses up at, and I fed them to my pigs. I went to the local baker, and green grocer and markets, and also to a farmer who was throwing away potatoes that were wrong shape or size for the supermarkets.

Video examples

How caffeine and alcohol...

It could be that almost a quarter of that caffeine is still swilling around in your brain at midnight. And as a result, it can make it harder for an individual to fall asleep or even stay asleep soundly throughout the night.

Example 1 of 2

Quote examples

Jenny Holzer

American Artist

I get up about four times a night and go back to sleep, or not. Then I swill tea around 8 a.m. I answer e-mail, while I stall thinking about whatever scares me.
Portrait of Jenny Holzer

Quote examples

George Orwell

British Author

Advertising is the rattling of a stick inside a swill bucket.
Portrait of George Orwell

Quote examples

Jenny Holzer

American Artist

I get up about four times a night and go back to sleep, or not. Then I swill tea around 8 a.m. I answer e-mail, while I stall thinking about whatever scares me.
Portrait of Jenny Holzer

Quote examples

George Orwell

British Author

Advertising is the rattling of a stick inside a swill bucket.
Portrait of George Orwell
Example 1 of 2
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