swan song
A final performance or accomplishment, especially one before retirement.
Yet, on the whole, our good Saint-Pierre is musical, poetical though most morbid: we will call his Book the swan-song of old dying France.
swan
UK /swɒn/ US /swɑn/
noun 6name 5verb 2
Collocations
6(noun.)
ADJ
black, white | graceful
SWAN + VERB
glide, swim | fly | land | hiss
Definitions
noun
1
Any of various species of large, long-necked waterfowl, of genus Cygnus (bird family: Anatidae), most of which have white plumage.
2
One whose grace etc. suggests a swan.
3
This bird used as a heraldic charge, sometimes with a crown around its neck (e. g. the arms of Buckinghamshire).
verb
1
To travel or move about in an aimless, idle, or pretentiously casual way.
He swans around that stinking office in his expensive clothes that are a little too tight for comfort, he swans around that stinking office without a care in the world.
One of the few strokes of good luck Emma had had in recent days was the news that Tatiana Flint-Hamilton, her only real rival for top billing as 'most photographable girl' at today's event had decided to swan off to Sardinia instead, leaving the limelight entirely to Emma.
verb
1
To declare (chiefly in first-person present constructions).
"Well, I swan, man, I had a better opinion of you than that."
‘She slammed the door so hard I figured a window'd break […].’ ‘I swan,’ I said.
Thesaurus
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
601
He swans around that stinking office in his expensive clothes that are a little too tight for comfort, he swans around that stinking office without a care in the world.
Wiktionary02
One of the few strokes of good luck Emma had had in recent days was the news that Tatiana Flint-Hamilton, her only real rival for top billing as 'most photographable girl' at today's event had decided
Wiktionary03
On the other side: the rich, beautiful tapestry of WASP culture that constituted Levis's life—friends playing horseshoes at backyard cocktail parties, where girls swanned in chaise longues, clinking t
Wiktionary04
"Well, I swan, man, I had a better opinion of you than that."
Wiktionary05
‘She slammed the door so hard I figured a window'd break […].’ ‘I swan,’ I said.
Wiktionary06
The Swans will doubtless recover, but they will head home this evening knowing that they didn't do themselves justice in a game that means so much to supporters.
WiktionaryUsage Notes
i Register
In some senses, swan is marked as figuratively, US, colloquial. Watch for register when choosing this word.
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