swipe left
/swaɪp lɛft/ IELTSAcademic
phrase
To move a finger left across a phone or screen. On dating apps, it also means to reject or say no to someone or something.
- Swipe left to delete the photo.
- She swiped left on the first profile.
- Don’t swipe left by mistake.
Adinary Nuance
Swipe left is more specific than reject or refuse. It comes from app culture, so it sounds modern and casual. Use it when talking about phone gestures or dating apps, not formal business writing.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- quẹt trái
- Spanish
- deslizar a la izquierda
- Chinese
- 向左滑
- Japanese
- 左にスワイプ
- Korean
- 왼쪽으로 스와이프
Etymology
This phrase comes from touchscreen gestures, especially on dating apps in the 2010s. It became common online as a quick way to show rejection.
Common phrases
swipe left on someoneswipe left on a profileaccidentally swipe left
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is swipe left formal or informal?
- It is informal. People mostly use it in app and online conversation.
- What is the difference between swipe left and swipe right?
- Swipe left usually means reject. Swipe right usually means like or accept.
- Can I use swipe left in business writing?
- Usually no. It fits casual tech talk, not formal reports.