please guys, help me with slang phrase.

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JCDenton  #518169  Sat, 24 May 08 12:09 AM

Hi,

I'm currently trying to wrap my head around the slang phrase "somebody takes a swing". I heard this phrase in this context...Boss of the car towing company is describing the crap situations, which occurs during the car towing process.


Mostly people yell. Sometimes, somebody takes a swing. ??

Of course, I dug out the internet for the examples of this phrase, but I'm still not sure, what this phrase means...:-(((

- Hillary Clinton takes a swing at sports metaphors.

- Mike Tyson Film takes a swing at His Old Image.

- Acer takes a swing at Windows Vista.

 

My bed was that it means "to threat someone/deal with something/to manhandle"...but then I found other example which denied it...:-((

 

many thanks in advance.

regards

 

JCD

 

 

 


 

  
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Philip  #518184  Sat, 24 May 08 12:32 AM
'Take a swing' refers to the act of throwing somebody a punch in the chest, stomach or face.  [That boxer can really swing!]  [Some day he's going to make me so angry I'm going to take a swing (punch him good).]  [So, you're mad at me?  Here's your chance:  take a swing.]
  
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optilang  #518186  Sat, 24 May 08 12:33 AM
JCDenton

- Hillary Clinton takes a swing at sports metaphors.

- Mike Tyson Film takes a swing at His Old Image.

- Acer takes a swing at Windows Vista.

 

 

For me in the above it means 'to hit out at' used metaphorically

To take a swing at something usually means to (try to) punch something 

  
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JCDenton  #518271  Sat, 24 May 08 06:44 AM

Thank you guys!

  
RayH  #518510  Sat, 24 May 08 05:09 PM
As you discovered, this idiom can mean many things depending on the context.

Mostly people yell. Sometimes, somebody takes a swing. ??    It can mean literally hitting or trying to hit someone

- Hillary Clinton takes a swing at sports metaphors.   it can mean to attempt something

- Mike Tyson Film takes a swing at His Old Image.   it can mean criticizing or making fun of someone or something

- Acer takes a swing at Windows Vista.   it can mean to test something

I'm sure you will find many other examples on the Internet.

  
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