Useful English Word or Phrase to Boost Your English: Swot

What does it mean?

Someone who studies excessively or is very academic, often to a fault.

Is it positive or negative?

Negative (but sometimes used as a lighthearted compliment between students).

When do you use it?

Often used in school or university to tease people who study a lot or focus purely on their academics.

Examples

Example 1: He's such a swot, he's already finished all the reading for next term!

Example 2: I need to swot up for my history exams next week, I've got so much to learn.

Question for you

Were you a bit of a swot when you were at school?

Are you looking for English speaking practice online?

Swot is a classic schoolyard term in the UK. We work on expanding your academic and informal vocabulary in online English lessons with a British native speaker. Find out more here.