To Cut With Big Sweeping Strokes – What Does This Mean?

Have you ever heard the phrase “to cut with big sweeping strokes”? This expression refers to making broad, dramatic cuts or slashes, usually with a sharp tool or weapon Let’s break it down and explore some examples of how this vivid imagery is used

The Literal Meaning

Taken literally, “to cut with big sweeping strokes” means to slice or slash something forcefully using wide, sweeping motions Imagine someone wielding a large knife or sword and swinging their arm in big arcs as they violently cut their target

Some literal examples would be:

• A swordsman making broad slashes as he duels his opponent.

• A chef chopping vegetables, using exaggerated sweeping motions with the knife to quickly slice through them.

• An artist making bold, dramatic brushstrokes across a canvas.

So in a physical sense, it evokes the visual of making aggressive, swooping cuts using momentum and exaggerated movements. The key words are “big” and “sweeping”, implying forceful, wide arcs rather than small, controlled motions.

Figurative Uses

More often, this phrase is used figuratively to convey the sense of making major, impactful changes without attention to detail. For example:

• A politician proposing reforms that make sweeping, radical changes with little subtlety.

• A business leader eliminating whole departments in dramatic cost-cutting measures.

• Critics describing an artist’s bold, avant-garde style as “cutting with big, sweeping strokes”.

The imagery suggests aggressive, decisive actions that have significant effects, rather than cautious, incremental ones. There’s a sense of assertiveness and confidence behind “big, sweeping” changes, compared to careful, precise alterations.

In Crossword Clues

This vivid expression pops up occasionally in crossword puzzle clues as well. For example:

• Cut with big sweeping motions (5 letters)
• Make sweeping slashes (5 letters)

The answer is typically “SLASH”, capturing the essence of forcefully cutting with broad strokes. Crossword creators use this phrase to spice up a clue about the word rather than just saying “slash” outright.

Similar Idiomatic Phrases

Some other idioms that convey a similar sentiment:

• Thinking outside the box (dramatic, unexpected thinking)
• Shake things up (disrupt the status quo)
• Game changer (a major innovation)
• Clean sweep (comprehensively eliminating something)

While not identical, these also capture a sense of bold, sweeping change in a figurative way.

When This Imagery is Used

So when might you come across someone describing actions as “cutting with big, sweeping strokes”?

• When an industry disruptor makes radical changes in their field
• To criticize initiatives seen as overly broad or blunt
• To praise bold, decisive leadership in times of crisis
• When an artist defies convention with an aggressive new style
• To indicate metaphorical slashing of budgets or workforce

In short, it conveys decisiveness and impact – but not necessarily precision or attention to detail. The mental image is more sledgehammer than scalpel.

Whether used literally to describe wide slashing motions or figuratively to convey bold, dramatic changes, “cutting with big sweeping strokes” creates a vivid word picture. It captures both the physicality of forceful, swooping cuts as well as the aggressiveness of radical reforms. Next time you hear this expressive phrase, visualize those sweeping arcs and its implied boldness. With its color and motion, this idiom brings any description to life.