The meaning of swath

[Anonymous]

Dear Pete or Rusty
Could you tell me the meaning of swath in this phrase--a broad swath of American foreign policy? Does it mean "a number of series"?

Many thanks.

[Rusty]

Dear Pete or Rusty
Could you tell me the meaning of swath in this phrase--a broad swath of American foreign policy? Does it mean "a number of series"?

Many thanks.
No, it's not a series. It is a wide sweep. A swath describes the position of grass or hay that is cut by a person sweeping a harvesting tool called a scythe in a half-circle around himself. This image is used to described anything that has a broad/wide effect.