Meaning of May-day sweep | Babel Free

Definitions

One of the sweeps (chimney sweeps), clad in bright clothes and garlands and carrying a blackened broom, in a May Day parade.

Examples

“The common herd of mortals invent⟳ excuses : they shuffle like⟳ a May-day sweep⟳, and lie⟳ like⟳ the prospectus of a new Magazine.”

“[…] preceded by a drum and fife, and followed by the successful marksman, who, dressed out with flowers and ribands as fantastically as a May-day sweep⟳ in England, expressed his joy by dancing and pirouetting amidst his friends, who congratulated and cheered him.”

“Thanks to certain alchemic pens, which have⟳ touched even garbage to gold-paper, murder⟳ has been as fine, and withal as jocund among us, as a May-day sweep⟳.”

“Brown and Emily Bustleton are whirling round as light⟳ as two pigeons over a dove-cot; Tozer, with that wicked whisking little Jones, spins along as merrily as a May-day sweep⟳; Miss⟳ Joy is The partner of the happy Fred.”

“[…] but anything would have⟳ been better than sitting at table with a thing only fit for a May-day sweep⟳ on one's head.”

CEFR level