swipes

American  

[swahyps] / swaɪps /

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. poor, watery, or spoiled beer.

2. malt liquor in general, especially beer and small beer.

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swipes British  

/ swaɪps /

plural noun

1. slang beer, esp when poor or weak

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Etymology

Origin of swipes

1780–90; noun plural use of swipe to drink down at one gulp, variant of sweep ¹

Example Sentences

The card duopoly makes money not just from credit card transactions, but also from debit card payments, earning roughly the same fee on both types of swipes.

From Barron's • Jan. 13, 2026

Stomach gnawing and hands slightly shaky, I loaded up on ephemera for fancy paninis, held together with swipes of giardiniera mayo, and splurged on some pastel-hued botanical sodas for drinking straight from the can.

From Salon • Jan. 1, 2026

My favorite of these swipes is when Miller asks Patel when he might get engaged to Wilkins.

From Slate • Dec. 18, 2025

But after making a New Year’s resolution to log every single one of her credit card swipes, she realized a considerable portion of her paycheck was going to “junk.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2025

A few quick swipes and there was nothing left up there at all, only skin.

From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac