snatch

snatch (snac̸h)

transitive verb

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

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

intransitive verb

noun

the act of snatching; a grab
a brief period; short time or spell to sleep in snatches
a small portion, esp. one that is incomplete or disconnected; fragment; bit snatches of gossip
Slang, Vulgar the vulva
☆ Slang an act of kidnapping
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′er noun

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

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.

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