one swell foop

English

Etymology

By humorous (or, occasionally, accidental) inversion from one fell swoop. Attributed by some to the Reverend William Archibald Spooner, but more likely arising independently.

Noun

one swell foop (uncountable)

1. (spoonerism) Synonym of one fell swoop.
   • 1902, The Elwinkle Company, “Beesum: The New Battle Creek Bellytimber!“ (advertisement), The Philistine vol. 15 no. 3, The Society of Philistines:

     Only one meal a week is required, thus doing away, at one swell foop, with cooks, scullions, stewards, butlers, waiters and other tip-extractors.

   • 1988, Ralph Zumbro, Tank Sergeant, Pocket Books, page 114:

     You have to pull it in, in one swell foop!.

   • 2014, Michael Friendly, Advanced Logo: A Language for Learning, Psychology Press, Section 9.6.1:

     If I can’t quite see how to do it all in one swell foop, I fall back on the principles of lazy programming: [...]

Anagrams

• one fell swoop