Swallow vs. Gallop — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 17, 2024
Swallow means to make food or drink pass down the throat, while gallop refers to the fastest gait of a horse or a rapid pace.
Difference Between Swallow and Gallop
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Swallow refers to the act of making food, drink, or another substance pass from the mouth to the stomach via the throat. This process is essential for consuming and digesting food and involves a coordinated effort of muscles in the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus. Gallop, on the other hand, describes the fastest pace of a horse, where all four feet are off the ground in each stride. It is characterized by a three-beat rhythm, where the horse moves at high speed, typically used in racing or when the horse is excited or escaping danger.
While swallowing is a biological function critical to eating and drinking, galloping is a physical action related to movement and speed in horses and some other animals. The term "swallow" also can be used metaphorically to mean accepting or enduring something, whereas "gallop" metaphorically describes rapid progression or hurried actions.
Swallowing can be voluntary or involuntary and is a daily, often unnoticed activity, whereas galloping is a visually dramatic and less frequent event, typically associated with animals like horses in motion.
Swallowing is essential for human and animal survival as it allows nourishment intake, while galloping is specific to certain animals and is important for their mobility and escape mechanisms.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Act of passing food/drink from the mouth to the stomach
Fastest gait of a horse
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Biological Function
Yes, essential for digestion
No, primarily a form of rapid movement
Metaphorical Use
Accept or endure something
Rapid progression or hurried actions
Frequency
Daily, numerous times
Less frequent, specific to certain animals
Involvement
Involuntary and voluntary muscle actions
Voluntary, involving coordinated limb movements
Compare with Definitions
Swallow
To cause or allow something to pass down the throat.
She had to swallow the medicine quickly.
Gallop
To move at a fast pace similar to a horse’s gallop.
The children galloped down the hill with excitement.
Swallow
To take in or accept something without question.
He had to swallow his pride and apologize.
Gallop
A three-beat gait used by horses for fast movement.
He enjoyed watching the horses gallop across the open field.
Swallow
To hold back or repress something.
She tried to swallow her tears during the sad movie.
Gallop
The fastest pace of a horse or other quadruped, with all the feet off the ground together in each stride
A mounted police charge at full gallop
The horse broke into a furious gallop
Swallow
The swallows, martins, and saw-wings, or Hirundinidae, are a family of passerine birds found around the world on all continents, including occasionally in Antarctica. Highly adapted to aerial feeding, they have a distinctive appearance.
Gallop
(of a horse) go at the pace of a gallop
We galloped along the sand
Swallow
To cause (food or drink, for example) to pass through the mouth and throat into the stomach.
Gallop
Proceed at great speed
Don't gallop through your speech
Swallow
To put up with (something unpleasant)
Swallowed the insults and kept on working.
Gallop
A gait of a horse, faster than a canter, in which all four feet are off the ground at the same time during each stride.
Swallow
To refrain from expressing; suppress
Swallow one's feelings.
Gallop
A fast running motion of other quadrupeds.
Swallow
To envelop or engulf
A building that was swallowed up by fire.
Gallop
A ride taken at a gallop.
Swallow
To consume or use up
Relief money that was swallowed by administrative costs.
Gallop
A rapid pace
Events were proceeding at a gallop.
Swallow
(Slang) To believe without question
Swallowed the alibi.
Gallop
(Medicine) A disordered rhythm of the heart characterized by three or four distinct heart sounds in each cycle and resembling the sound of a galloping horse. Also called gallop rhythm.
Swallow
To take back; retract
Swallow one's words.
Gallop
To cause to gallop.
Swallow
To say inarticulately; mumble
The actor swallowed his lines.
Gallop
To go or move at a gallop.
Swallow
To perform the act of swallowing.
Gallop
To move or progress swiftly
Summer was galloping by.
Swallow
The act of swallowing.
Gallop
The fastest gait of a horse, a two-beat stride during which all four legs are off the ground simultaneously.
Swallow
An amount swallowed.
Gallop
An act or instance of going or running rapidly.
Swallow
(Nautical) The channel through which a rope runs in a block or a mooring chock.
Gallop
(cardiology) An abnormal rhythm of the heart, made up of three or four sounds, like a horse's gallop.
Swallow
Any of various small graceful swift-flying passerine birds of the family Hirundinidae, having long pointed wings, a usually notched or forked tail, and a large mouth for catching flying insects.
Gallop
To run at a gallop.
The horse galloped past the finishing line.
Swallow
Any of various similar birds, such as a swift.
Gallop
(intransitive) To ride at a galloping pace.
Swallow
(transitive) To cause (food, drink etc.) to pass from the mouth into the stomach; to take into the stomach through the throat.
Gallop
(transitive) To cause to gallop.
To gallop a horse
Swallow
(transitive) To take (something) in so that it disappears; to consume, absorb.
Gallop
(ambitransitive) To make electrical or other utility lines sway and/or move up and down violently, usually due to a combination of high winds and ice accrual on the lines.
Swallow
(intransitive) To take food down into the stomach; to make the muscular contractions of the oesophagus to achieve this, often taken as a sign of nervousness or strong emotion.
My throat was so sore that I was unable to swallow.
Gallop
(intransitive) To run very fast.
Swallow
(transitive) To accept easily or without questions; to believe, accept.
Gallop
To go rapidly or carelessly, as in making a hasty examination.
Swallow
(intransitive) To engross; to appropriate; usually with up.
Gallop
To progress rapidly through the body.
Swallow
(transitive) To retract; to recant.
To swallow one's opinions
Gallop
To move or run in the mode called a gallop; as a horse; to go at a gallop; to run or move with speed.
But gallop lively down the western hill.
Swallow
(transitive) To put up with; to bear patiently or without retaliation.
To swallow an affront or insult
Gallop
To ride a horse at a gallop.
Swallow
(archaic) A deep chasm or abyss in the earth.
Gallop
Fig.: To go rapidly or carelessly, as in making a hasty examination.
Such superficial ideas he may collect in galloping over it.
Swallow
(archaic) The mouth and throat; that which is used for swallowing; the gullet.
Gallop
To cause to gallop.
Swallow
The amount swallowed in one gulp; the act of swallowing.
He took the aspirin with a single swallow of water.
Gallop
A mode of running by a quadruped, particularly by a horse, by lifting alternately the fore feet and the hind feet, in successive leaps or bounds.
Swallow
(nautical) The opening in a pulley block between the sheave and shell through which the rope passes.
Gallop
A fast gait of a horse; a two-beat stride during which all four legs are off the ground simultaneously
Swallow
(Nigeria) Any of various carbohydrate-based dishes that are swallowed without much chewing.
Gallop
Ride at a galloping pace;
He was galloping down the road
Swallow
A small, migratory bird of the Hirundinidae family with long, pointed, moon-shaped wings and a forked tail which feeds on the wing by catching insects.
Gallop
Go at galloping speed;
The horse was galloping along
Swallow
Any one of numerous species of passerine birds of the family Hirundinidæ, especially one of those species in which the tail is deeply forked. They have long, pointed wings, and are noted for the swiftness and gracefulness of their flight.
Gallop
Cause to move at full gallop;
Did you gallop the horse just now?
Swallow
Any one of numerous species of swifts which resemble the true swallows in form and habits, as the common American chimney swallow, or swift.
Gallop
The fastest gait of a horse, with all four feet off the ground.
The horse began to gallop as they approached the finish line.
Swallow
The aperture in a block through which the rope reeves.
Gallop
To proceed or progress rapidly.
The project started to gallop after the initial delays were resolved.
Swallow
The act of swallowing.
Gallop
To hurry or rush.
She had to gallop through her homework to finish on time.
Swallow
The gullet, or esophagus; the throat.
Swallow
Taste; relish; inclination; liking.
I have no swallow for it.
Swallow
Capacity for swallowing; voracity.
There being nothing too gross for the swallow of political rancor.
Swallow
As much as is, or can be, swallowed at once; as, a swallow of water.
Swallow
That which ingulfs; a whirlpool.
Swallow
To take into the stomach; to receive through the gullet, or esophagus, into the stomach; as, to swallow food or drink.
As if I had swallowed snowballs for pills.
Swallow
To draw into an abyss or gulf; to ingulf; to absorb - usually followed by up.
The earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses.
Swallow
To receive or embrace, as opinions or belief, without examination or scruple; to receive implicitly.
Though that story . . . be not so readily swallowed.
Swallow
To engross; to appropriate; - usually with up.
Homer excels . . . in this, that he swallowed up the honor of those who succeeded him.
Swallow
To occupy; to take up; to employ.
The necessary provision of the life swallows the greatest part of their time.
Swallow
To seize and waste; to exhaust; to consume.
Corruption swallowed what the liberal handOf bounty scattered.
Swallow
To retract; to recant; as, to swallow one's opinions.
Swallow
To put up with; to bear patiently or without retaliation; as, to swallow an affront or insult.
Swallow
To perform the act of swallowing; as, his cold is so severe he is unable to swallow.
Swallow
A small amount of liquid food;
A sup of ale
Swallow
The act of swallowing;
One swallow of the liquid was enough
He took a drink of his beer and smacked his lips
Swallow
Small long-winged songbird noted for swift graceful flight and the regularity of its migrations
Swallow
Pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking;
Swallow the raw fish--it won't kill you!
Swallow
Engulf and destroy;
The Nazis swallowed the Baltic countries
Swallow
Enclose or envelop completely, as if by swallowing;
The huge waves swallowed the small boat and it sank shortly thereafter
Swallow
Utter indistinctly;
She swallowed the last words of her speech
Swallow
Take back what one has said;
He swallowed his words
Swallow
Keep from expressing;
I swallowed my anger and kept quiet
Swallow
Tolerate or accommodate oneself to;
I shall have to accept these unpleasant working conditions
I swallowed the insult
She has learned to live with her husband's little idiosyncracies
Swallow
Believe or accept without questioning or challenge;
Am I supposed to swallow that story?
Swallow
To believe or accept something without skepticism.
They were too naive to swallow his lies.
Swallow
To engulf or consume something entirely.
The dark cloud seemed to swallow the entire sky.
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to swallow?
Swallowing means making food or liquid pass from the mouth down the throat into the stomach.
How does a horse gallop?
A horse gallops by moving in a three-beat gait where all four feet are off the ground simultaneously in each stride.
What muscles are involved in swallowing?
Swallowing involves muscles in the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus.
What is the purpose of galloping for horses?
Galloping allows horses to move quickly, often used in racing, escaping predators, or when they are excited.
Can swallowing be voluntary?
Yes, swallowing can be voluntary, such as when consciously eating, but it also occurs involuntarily during the process of digestion.
What is the metaphorical meaning of "gallop"?
"Gallop" metaphorically describes rapid progression or hurried actions.
What speeds can a horse reach while galloping?
Horses can reach speeds of 25-30 mph (40-48 km/h) while galloping.
Is galloping unique to horses?
While galloping is most commonly associated with horses, other animals like deer and some dogs can also gallop.
Is galloping a common activity for horses?
Galloping is not as common as walking or trotting and is typically seen when horses are in a hurry or need to move quickly.
Can "swallow" be used metaphorically?
Yes, "swallow" can mean to accept or endure something, often without questioning.
How often do humans swallow?
Humans swallow hundreds of times a day, including when eating, drinking, and even when not consuming anything to clear saliva.
What happens if someone can't swallow properly?
Difficulty swallowing, or dysphagia, can lead to choking, malnutrition, and other health issues, requiring medical attention.
Can swallowing be affected by medical conditions?
Yes, conditions like stroke, neurological disorders, or throat injuries can impair the swallowing process.
Why do horses gallop?
Horses gallop to cover ground quickly, whether in natural behavior, racing, or escaping danger.
Is swallowing an essential function?
Yes, swallowing is essential for consuming food and liquids necessary for survival.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
