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
There is a broom and carpet sweeper in the storeroom, and plenty of dust cloths.
From Janice Day the Young Homemaker by Long, Helen Beecher
He says it’s just like a lawn-mower or a carpet-sweeper.
From Maida's Little Shop by Gillmore, Inez Haynes
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)
When Katie's carpet-sweeper and feather-duster and kind, gossiping voice sounded too close, he escaped out of doors, but not on his bicycle.
From Rough-Hewn by Canfield, Dorothy
He pointed to a carpet-sweeper which lay against the wall.
From The Black Box by Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
Romola flew to the kitchen and borrowed an apron from the cook, tied a duster round her head, seized up a pail and a carpet-sweeper, and came as 'Domestic Service.'
From Monitress Merle by Brazil, Angela
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.
