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.
“I love my carpet sweeper music,” he said.
From New York Times ● Jan. 22, 2020
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
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
But I forgot, this morning, and put on some old shoes that didn't have any rubber heels, and I ran the carpet sweeper, and I rattled tins in the kitchen.
From Miss Billy's Decision by Porter, Eleanor H. (Eleanor Hodgman)
Other articles are put in their places, the dresser top is brushed off and its various contents properly arranged, litter is taken up with dustpan and brush, or carpet-sweeper, and the room is dusted.
From The Complete Home by Laughlin, Clara E. (Clara Elizabeth)
She could dust and run the carpet-sweeper over the rooms right away, and have them in order; and that would save time for to-morrow.
From Cloudy Jewel by Hill, Grace Livingston
One of her assistants was a positive marvel—a human carpet-sweeper.
From War Letters of a Public-School Boy by Jones, Henry Paul Mainwaring
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.
A carpet-sweeper is more hygienic than a broom, and a vacuum cleaner is better than a carpet-sweeper.
From How to Live Rules for Healthful Living Based on Modern Science by Fisher, Irving
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.
