What is one fell swoop?

One Fell Swoop

The idiom "one fell swoop" refers to a single action that accomplishes something completely or decisively. It often implies a sudden, sweeping, or all-encompassing effect. It suggests that a task, problem, or situation is resolved or altered quickly and efficiently in a single attempt.

It commonly carries the connotation of unexpectedness and finality. The phrase originated from Shakespeare's Macbeth, specifically Act IV, Scene III where Macduff laments the murder of his family: "He has no children. All my pretty ones? Did you say all? O hell-kite! All? What, all my pretty chickens and their dam at one fell swoop?"

The phrase highlights the totality of the loss, emphasizing that everything was destroyed in <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/single%20action">single action</a>. Over time, the meaning generalized to refer to any situation where something is accomplished swiftly and comprehensively. Using the expression often adds a dramatic or emphatic tone to the narrative.