SWEENEY Meaning and
Definition
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Sweeney is a noun that primarily refers to a slang term used to describe a member of the police force or law enforcement, especially in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The term is derived from "Sweeney Todd," an infamous fictional character who was a murderous barber in an early 19th-century English penny dreadful. The character's exploits were later adapted into various plays and movies.
In popular culture and urban slang, "Sweeney" is often used as a colloquial name for a police officer or detective. It carries a somewhat negative connotation, implying that the person is overly aggressive or corrupt. However, it can also be used more neutrally, simply as a way to refer to someone who works in law enforcement.
Outside of its association with law enforcement, "Sweeney" can also refer to the surname of individuals. It is an anglicized form of the Irish name Mac Suibhne, meaning "son of Suibhne." It has its roots in Irish history and mythology, associated with diverse figures like poets, warriors, and saints.
While "Sweeney" may have different meanings based on context, its most common usage relates to the perception of police officers or detectives, either positively or negatively, depending on the speaker's perspective.
Top Common Misspellings for SWEENEY *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for SWEENEY
Etymology of SWEENEY
The name "Sweeney" is of Irish origin. It derives from the Gaelic surname "Mac Suibhne", which means "son of Suibhne". Suibhne was a personal name existing in ancient Ireland. Over time, the name Mac Suibhne evolved into various forms, including Mac Sweeney or Sweeney. It eventually became a common surname in Ireland, particularly in the northern counties of Donegal and Derry. "Sweeney" has since spread to other English-speaking countries through Irish immigration, retaining its Irish roots.
Idioms with the word SWEENEY
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(Go) tell it/that to Sweeney!
This idiom is used to dismiss or reject someone's statement, suggestion, or excuse as implausible or unbelievable. It suggests that the person should go and tell their story to someone else who might believe it, possibly an imaginary or gullible character named Sweeney.
Similar spelling words for SWEENEY
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