snatch Hear it!

snatch Definition

snatch (snac̸h)

transitive verb

  1. to grasp or seize suddenly, eagerly, or without right, warning, etc.; grab
  2. to remove abruptly or hastily
  3. to take, get, or avail oneself of hastily or while there is a chance to snatch some rest
  4. Slang to kidnap

Etymology: ME snacchen, prob. var. of snakken, to seize; akin to snaken: see snack

intransitive verb

  1. to try to grasp or seize a thing suddenly; grab (at)
  2. to accept or take advantage of a chance, etc. eagerly: with at

noun

  1. the act of snatching; a grab
  2. a brief period; short time or spell to sleep in snatches
  3. a small portion, esp. one that is incomplete or disconnected; fragment; bit snatches of gossip
  4. Slang, Vulgar the vulva
  5. Slang an act of kidnapping
  6. Weight Lifting a lift in which the barbell is raised in one continuous motion from the floor to a position directly overhead with the arms completely extended

Etymology: ME snacche

snatch Related Forms

snatcher noun

snatch Synonyms

snatch

v.

jerk, grasp, steal; see seize 1, 2. See syn. study at seize.

snatch Usage Examples

Object

  • equalizer: Then, with just seconds left on the clock, Colin Stein snatched a dramatic equalizer for Rangers.
  • victory: Seaford had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
  • squad: A kind of snatch squad got sent through the police lines.
  • handbag: I was warned about drug addicts ripping jewelry off people, snatching handbags and so on as they seek money to feed their habits.
  • defeat: Then we managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
  • purse: However, watch out for young men on bicycles who try to snatch purses, handbags or cameras.

Modifying Another Word

  • cruelly: But for some, that lifeline has been cruelly snatched away.
  • away: Do you live for a certain amount of time only to be snatched away from that distant reality to the reality of things?
  • suddenly: Car co insurance op won't suddenly snatch in which the.
  • nearly: This brilliant showmanship very nearly snatched the MBE from Bob.
  • almost: In 1999 overall victory was almost snatched by the ladies winner A Reid, who was just 3 seconds behind male N Davenport.
  • in: He looked slightly reluctant but had run in snatches throughout.

Followed by an intransitive particle

away: But goals on 86 and 87 minutes saw the points cruelly snatched away from them and sent Sutton into hyperactive celebrations.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • away: He lived 27 years 4 months 11 days. " Sudden death snatched away the prime of his life " .
  • up: At the same moment he snatched up a knife that had been left lying on the ground.

Preposition: of

  • conversation: Even my husband had not heard the whole tale, only bits gleaned from snatches of conversation.
  • dialog: Snatches of dialog stick to the walls of your memory.
  • song: They were singing snatches of the song of the revolt, most of them out of tune.
  • tune: Opens with a snatch of the theme tune to BBC TV's 50s/60s police series Dixon of Dock Green.

Preposition: from

jaw: A good trip snatched from the jaws of incompetence.

Browse dictionary entries near snatch

  1. snarly
  2. snarl
  3. snarky
  4. snark
  5. snarf
  6. snare drum
  7. snare
  8. snapshot
  9. snappy
  10. snappish
  1. snatch block
  2. snatchy
  3. snath
  4. snazzy
  5. SNCC
  6. sneak
  7. sneak out of
  8. sneak preview
  9. sneak thief
  10. sneaker