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Thread: sweep in from the desert?

  1. #1
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    Default sweep in from the desert?

    Hello, ma teacher!

    I don't get the usage of "in" in this phrase: sweep in from the desert

    I read this in Bible and this is the full text: Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house.

    What I want to know is ... how can I understand this expression: sweep in from
    I know why "from" is used. It means "from the desert."

    Is "sweep in" kind of idiom?

    The reason why I am curious is that I think "in" looks unnecessary.

    Please let me know how I should understand this
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    Default Re: sweep in from the desert?

    It means to come in(side) swiftly, strongly; e.g., the wind came in(side) swiftly.
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    Default Re: sweep in from the desert?

    I feel that it means 'towards' (the location we know about) rather than 'inside'.
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    Context is always important; labelling is rarely important.


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    Default Re: sweep in from the desert?

    [QUOTE=lst715;834830]


    NOT A TEACHER


    (1) May I add a few words to the key member's and the moderator's excellent answers.

    (2) I found three examples (Google books) that may help you to better

    understand that "sweep in" means something like "come in":


    (a) Rain swept in from the mountains.

    (b) The cold breeze swept in from the bay.

    (c) A hundred angry letters swept in from across the nation.

    (3) As you know. many times we use "sweep" without "in":

    I sweep the kitchen every day.

    (4) I do not think that "sweep in" is considered an idiom. I think that it is considered

    a phrasal verb. When you get time, you may wish to research the topic "phrasal

    verbs" by checking your books, this website's "search" box, or the Web.
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