swallow somebody/something ↔ up phrasal verb (see also swallow)

1. if a company or country is swallowed up by a larger one, it becomes part of it and no longer exists on its own:
Hundreds of small companies have been swallowed up by these huge multinationals.

2. written if something is swallowed up, it disappears because something covers it or hides it:
Jane was soon swallowed up in the crowd.
The countryside is gradually being swallowed up by new developments.

3. if an amount of money is swallowed up, you have to spend it to pay for things:
The extra cash was soon swallowed up.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

swallow up
swallow up (someone/something)
to take in or absorb someone or something.
The suburbs are swallowing up all the farmland and open space in the region.

She walked down the street, and the crowd just swallowed her up.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

swallow up something
swallow up (someone/something)
to take in or absorb someone or something.
The suburbs are swallowing up all the farmland and open space in the region.

She walked down the street, and the crowd just swallowed her up.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

swallow up
v. phr. To do away with; absorb; engulf.
My expenses are so great that they swallow up my modest salary.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

swallow up someone
swallow up (someone/something)
to take in or absorb someone or something.
The suburbs are swallowing up all the farmland and open space in the region.

She walked down the street, and the crowd just swallowed her up.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲