cut a swathe through

pass through (something) causing great damage, destruction, or change

橫掃而過（造成破壞，改變）；夷為平地

Aids has cut a swathe through battalions of ordinary people.

艾滋病已經(jīng)奪去了無數(shù)平民百姓的生命。

cut a wide swath

(US)attract a great deal of attention by trying to impress others

(美)炫耀，招搖過市，出風(fēng)頭