sweep away

verb sweeps away · sweeping away · swept away

1. transitive To remove something by, or as if by, sweeping. Bridges were swept away or damaged on the Gifford and Lauder branches, both of which were closed to passengers several years ago, but remained open for goods traffic.
2. idiomatic, transitive To overwhelm someone emotionally; sweep someone off their feet. Balaam was swept away with admiration of the Israelite encampments and homes that were a picture of idyllic happiness and prosperity.
3. idiomatic, transitive to completely destroy, to annihilate The widespread, murderous counter-revolutionary pogroms against women, transgender expression and same-sex love carried out by the Catholic and early Protestant hierarchies had subsided as the Industrial Revolution began sweeping away the kingdoms of Europe.