Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US black, also take the swoop) to move fast, to approach or leave quickly.

1949–51		in M. Daly Profile of Youth 235: Negro teen-agers on Chicago’s South Side show a flair for colorful language and imaginative clothes [...] Visored cord caps, especially in colors, are favorites with the fellows and often ‘deals’ (girls) in a hurry to ‘take the swoop’ (get home) wear hats to the day’s last class.
1960		‘Lord Buckley’ Hiparama of the Classics 7: Everytime India got a little extra Supply in the cupboard the Lion went ZOOM – snapped it up and swooped the scene.
1970		A. Young Snakes (1971) 120: I’m makin plans to swoop. [Ibid.] 143: Just get on a jet and swoop, that’s what you do.

2. (US black) to steal someone else’s lover, esp. when the manoeuvre is conducted quickly.

1994

G. Smitherman Black Talk.

3. (US campus) to drive fast.

1968		‘Sl. of Watts’ in Current Sl. III:2 47: Swoop, To drive fast in a car.
1989		P. Munro Sl. U.
1995		Eble Campus Sl. Apr. 9: swoop – follow each other in cars, getting to the destination as quickly as possible.

4. (US black) to assault in a group.

1980

E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 106: You and some brothers swoop on dis dude.

5. (US black/campus) to make a pass at, to make sexual advances towards.

1980		E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 85: Swoop on some young lady, invite her in dere too.
1989		P. Munro Sl. U. 185: He fully swooped on her and they ended up mashing.

6. (US black/N.Z. prison) to steal, to take; to arrest.

1982		G. Newbold Big Huey 254: swoop (on) (v) 1. Steal, take, appropriate. 2. Arrest.
1985		T.R. Houser Central Sl. 51: swoop [...] To descend or drop upon someone quickly and suddenly, usually to commit a crime.
2001		D. Jenkins Money-Whipped Steer-Job 15: I grab me a W every year or so. I swoop close to a million a year in official money now.
2001		D. Looser Boobslang [U. Canterbury D.Phil. thesis] 182/2: swoop (on) v. 1 to steal or take 2 to arrest.