at one fell swoop meaning

(Shakespeare, Macbeth IV.3.218)
1. By one terrible blow
2. (also in or with) by one complete decisive action
3. Suddenly

[American idiom]
in a single incident; as a single event. (This phrase preserves the old word fell, meaning ""terrible"" or ""deadly"")
• The party guests ate up all the snacks at one fell swoop.
• When the stock market crashed, many large fortunes were wiped out in one fell swoop.

[American slang]
Fig. in a single incident; as a single event. (This phrase preserves the old word fell, meaning "terrible" or "deadly.")
  The party guests ate up all the snacks at one fell swoop.
  When the stock market crashed, many large fortunes were wiped out in one fell swoop.

Examples

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1. the tornado destroyed the whole city at one fell swoop
2. the millionaire lost his money and his friends at one fell swoop
3. four cars drove into the driveway, and mrs robert's dinner guests all arrived at one fell swoop
4. we lost three of our staff at one fell swoop today . they all left and got other jobs
5. i put a plate of biscuits on the table and the three children ate them at one fell swoop