26984 words

snatch

12 definitions • 19 examples
1
to take hold of something suddenly and roughly:

Examples:

He snatched the photos out of my hand before I had a chance to look at them.
Don't snatch, Isabel!
2
to take something or someone away by force:

Examples:

The six-year-old girl was snatched from a playground and her body was found two days later.
She had her purse snatched (= stolen) while she was shopping.
3
to do or get something quickly because you only have a short amount of time:

Examples:

Maybe you'll be able to snatch a couple of hours' sleep before dinner.
4
to get or win something, especially suddenly, unexpectedly, or by a small amount:

Examples:

snatch a lead She quickly broke serve and snatched an early lead.
snatch an equaliser They snatched an equaliser in the closing seconds of the game.
snatch a draw They finally snatched a draw with an injury-time goal.
snatch something from someone Running the best race of his career, Fletcher snatched the gold medal from the Canadian champion.
5
in weightlifting, to lift a barbell (= a long bar with a weight on each end) from the floor to above the head in one continuous movement:

Examples:

If you can't snatch the barbell, try a lighter bar.
There are videos that show you how to snatch correctly.
6
the action of trying to take something quickly and forcefully:

Examples:

make a snatch I felt someone behind me make a snatch at my bag.
7
a short part of something:

Examples:

snatch of I tried to hear what they were saying, but I only managed to catch a few snatches of conversation.
8
in weightlifting, the action of lifting the barbell (= a long bar with a weight on each end) from the ground to above the head in one continuous movement:

Examples:

She can lift a 80 kg barbell in a single snatch.
Take the total of your best snatch and your best clean and jerk, and multiply it by your body weight.
9
a rude word for a vagina
10
to take hold of something suddenly and without warning:

Examples:

[ M ] They snatched up their coats and hats and ran outside.
Somebody snatched her purse when she wasn’t looking.
11
To snatch something is to do it in the short amount of time available:

Examples:

We rushed in and snatched the best seats we could get.
12
a brief part (of something):

Examples:

I could hear snatches of conversation from the people in the booth next to ours.

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