An Americanism dating back to 1855–60
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The opera’s second act begins with a scene showing Anne at home with Susan, using an old-fashioned carpet sweeper.
From New York Times ● Jan. 22, 2020
“I love my carpet sweeper music,” he said.
From New York Times ● Jan. 22, 2020
But should the bedroom tea-maker, the carpet sweeper and the hostess trolley be consigned to the dustbin of history?
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2018
One of the most popular non-electrical labour-saving devices was the mechanical carpet sweeper, which first went on sale in Britain in 1889.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2018
"And a cute little carpet sweeper 'zactly the same as Liza's big one, and a mop to rub all around the floor——" "But you won't need a sweeper for the floor of the porch, Berta."
From Mary's Rainbow by Feehan, Mary Edward
While her lodgers were at church the tireless Mrs. Schiller was doing a little housecleaning: he could hear the monotonous rasp of a carpet-sweeper passing back and forth in an adjoining room.
From The Haunted Bookshop by Morley, Christopher
The little upholstery tuft-cleaner consumes only one-ninth as much power as the carpet-sweeper.
From Guide to Hotel Housekeeping by Palmer, Mary E.
When you remove the waste from your carpet-sweeper, carefully cut the lint and hair from the revolving rolls and brushes.
From Food and Health by Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company
He says it’s just like a lawn-mower or a carpet-sweeper.
From Maida's Little Shop by Gillmore, Inez Haynes
The Bissell carpet-sweeper factory, president, Mrs. M. R. Bissell, presented to the delegates one hundred and fifty specially made small carpet-sweepers, each marked in gilt, National American Woman Suffrage Association.
From The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV by Harper, Ida Husted
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
