Swatting Meaning in English
word · lemma: swat
Definition
Swatting means hitting something, especially to kill insects. It also refers to a dangerous prank where someone calls the police on another person as a joke, saying there's an emergency.
Usage & Nuances
The physical sense is informal and common: "swatting a fly" means hitting it, usually with the hand or a tool. The criminal meaning (fake emergency calls) is recent, mostly in American contexts and often appears in news about internet pranks or crimes. Use with care: the prank meaning is serious and can have legal consequences.
Example Sentences
He was swatting at the mosquito on his arm.
basic
She kept swatting flies in the kitchen.
basic
The boy started swatting bugs with a newspaper.
basic
Online gamers are sometimes victims of swatting, which can be very dangerous.
natural
"Stop swatting me! I'm trying to read," she joked as her brother waved a magazine around.
natural
The police arrived at his house because of swatting, even though nothing was wrong.
natural