swift, adj. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

swift adj.

1. exciting.

1899–1900		C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 286: Well, it was a pretty swift week after that [...] but it didn’t cost us more than $200.
1901		‘Hugh McHugh’ Down the Line 59: Hereafter when Clara Jane yearns for something swift I’ll take her down and let her watch the trolley cars go by.

2. sexually forward.

1937–84

Partridge DSUE (1984) 1186/2: late C.19–20.

3. smart, clever, cunning.

1885		Nat. Police Gaz. 26 Sept. n.p.: Then Silas Peabody [...] gave Miss Hasty the hasty shake — she was too swift for him.
1895		J. London ‘’Frisco Kid’s Story’ in High School Aegis X (15 Feb.) 2–3: He wuz de swiftest scrapper on de drag.
1907		JH. Lawson ‘Mateship’ in Lone Hand (Sydney) Sept. 511/2: Ginger, who is ‘pretty swift with the three-pea’.
1912		J. London Smoke Bellew Pt 10 🌐 You’re almighty swift with business up here on the hill.
1967		M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 80: I ain’t real swift [...] If I was I wouldn’t be beating this yard morning after morning.
1977		G.F. Newman Villain’s Tale 152: He won’t tolerate any suggestions of a fit-up, no matter how swift it looks.
1980		E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 257: swift 1. Quick-witted. 2. Alert.
1994		N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 183: The really swift dealers found ways to convert a portion of their goods to forbidden cash.

4. wealthy, sophisticated.

1904		E.W. Townsend ‘Chimmie Fadden’ 20 Nov. [synd. col.] Dat newspaper piece [...] is putting me and de missus next to de swift set.
1919		Wodehouse ‘Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest’ in My Man Jeeves [ebook] I’m a quiet, peaceful sort of chappie who has lived all his life in London, and I can’t stand the pace these swift sportsmen from the rural districts set.
1945		R.L. Bellem ‘Ruby Ransom’ Hollywood Detective Dec. 🌐 The league he liked to travel in socially was too swift for my bankroll.

5. (US campus) dull, stupid, ignorant.

1969		Current Sl. III:4.
1971		Current Sl. V:4.

6. of a police officer, carrying out any illegal activities, esp. during an arrest.

1970

‘Metropolitan Police Sl.’ in P. Laurie Scotland Yard (1972) 328: swift: of a CID officer whose methods are scarcely legal.

7. (US campus) good, excellent.

1988		Eble Campus Sl. Mar. 9: swift – good: ‘I made an A on my English 36 test.’ ‘Swift!’.
1990		M. McAlary Crack War (1991) 24: ‘That shit was swift,’ the Shooter said.

8. healthy.

1995

R. Campbell Wizard of La-La Land (1999) 189: If I was you, I’d go back to sleep. You don’t look too swift.

In compounds

swift ’un (n.)

1. a cunning individual, one who is ‘in the know’.

1906

Sun. Times (Perth) 8 Apr. 4/8: There was You Luck, an’ Draky, an’ Bushy, an’ Spasms [...] an’ a dozen other swift ’uns.

2. (UK Und.) corrupt police procedure when arresting a suspect.

1977

G.F. Newman Villain’s Tale 114: They made it look like a swift ’un, Fred Pyall thought, as he stood in the muster room and observed the proceedings, even though he accepted that it wasn’t.

In phrases

a bit swift

(UK police/Und.) describing the taking of unfair advantage; usu. the complaint is made by the villain against the arresting officer.

1977		D. Powis Signs of Crime 203: Swift, a bit Unfair advantage was taken: ‘Guv’nor, now that was a bit swift.’.
1989		J. Morton Lowspeak 136: Swift, a bit – an unfair advantage, as in ‘That was a bit swift’.

pull a swift one (sfx) (also pull a swifty)

to carry out some form of confidence trick.

1986

R.G. Barrett Real Thing 180: They’re going to realise that’s exactly what it is: garbage [...] I’ll be fifteen grand down the drain [...] Not to mention getting sprung trying to pull a swifty.

SE in slang uses

In compounds

swift one (n.) (also swifter, swifty)

1. a quick drink.

1834		Sun (N.Y.) 13 May 2/3: Why, I mean that, after church was out, I went into a porter house and took a swifter [DA].
1957		(con. 1943) A. Myrer Big War 56: I’m going down to Moran’s and have a swifty or two.
1963–74		B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 14: What say you and me nick in the nearest old English inn and sink a few swift ones?
1983		J. Sullivan ‘May the Force be with You’ Only Fools and Horses [TV script] He was coming down for a swift one but he got involved with a bit of business.

2. (US) a smart comment, a witicism.

1930

E. Glyn Flirt and Flapper 90: Flapper: Had they some pretty swift one in it? [i.e. a conversation] [...] Flirt: If ’swift ones’ means incredible points of view, they assuredly had .