# in one foul swoop

> English word · Prep_phrase

## Definitions
1. (Achieved or completed) with a single action; in a single stroke.

## Etymology
Mondegreen variant of in one fell swoop, where "fell" (of a strong and cruel nature; eager and unsparing; grim; fierce; ruthless; savage) is misheard as "foul" (disgusting) or "fowl" (a bird).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/in-one-foul-swoop