For with wild cries and a noise of skirling pipes and shrill horns blowing, the whole of that vile rabble came sweeping off the hill-top and down the slope right past their hiding-place.
If we take this a step further we can assume that people who are both hot and nice are the best catches, and get swept off the market quickly, further increasing your perception and bias.
" This sort of thing ought to be cleared away promptly at the end of meetings, " she snapped, before sweeping off towards an ancient dresser from which she started unloading dinner plates.
You are seeing empty shelves when it comes to staple goods that people are sweeping off the shelves in order to stock up in case of further price rises.