Definition

1. Noun:

   • A sudden, sharp sound: A short, quick, cracking noise, like that of something breaking or a finger being clicked.
   • A quick, sudden action or movement: A fast, often abrupt motion, such as the closing of something or a quick photograph.
   • A fastener: A type of clothing closure that makes a clicking sound when pressed together.
   • A brief period of something: A short, sudden spell of a particular condition, especially weather.
   • An easy task: An undertaking that is very simple to do.
   • An informal photograph: A photograph taken quickly and casually.

2. Verb:

   • To break suddenly with a sharp sound: To separate or cause to separate abruptly, often with a cracking noise.
   • To make a sharp sound: To produce a sudden, short noise, like clicking one's fingers.
   • To speak sharply or angrily: To utter words in a quick, irritable, or abrupt manner.
   • To move or close quickly and sharply: To move or cause to move into position with a sudden, decisive motion.
   • To take a photograph quickly: To capture an image with a camera in an instant.
   • To lose self-control: To suddenly become unable to control one's emotions, often after prolonged stress.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The branch broke with a loud snap. (The branch made a sharp cracking sound when it broke.)
  • She closed the purse with a snap. (She closed the purse, and its fastener made a clicking sound.)
  • We're expecting a cold snap this weekend. (We are anticipating a short period of very cold weather.)
  • Fixing the leak was a snap for the plumber. (For the plumber, repairing the leak was a very easy job.)

• Verb:

  • The dry twig snapped under his foot. (The dry twig broke suddenly when he stepped on it.)
  • He snapped his fingers to get our attention. (He made a clicking sound with his fingers to attract our notice.)
  • "Don't ask me again!" she snapped. (She spoke those words in a sharp, angry tone.)
  • The lid snapped shut. (The lid closed quickly and firmly with a clicking sound.)
  • I snapped a few pictures of the sunset. (I quickly took several photographs of the sunset.)
  • After months of pressure, he finally snapped. (After enduring stress for a long time, he finally lost his emotional control.)

Advanced Usage

• "Snap out of it": To force yourself to stop being in an undesirable mood or state (like sadness, lethargy, or daydreaming).

  • He was feeling depressed, but he managed to snap out of it. (He was able to make himself stop feeling depressed.)

• "Snap to it": A command to start doing something immediately and with energy.

  • We're late! Snap to it! (We need to hurry up and get moving right away!)

• "Snap decision/judgment": A decision or opinion made very quickly, without careful thought.

  • I made a snap decision to buy the car, and I later regretted it. (I decided to purchase the car impulsively.)

Variants and Related Words

• Snappy (adj): Lively, brisk, or stylish. Also can mean irritable.

  • She writes in a snappy style. (Her writing style is lively and brisk.)
  • He's feeling snappy today. (He is in an irritable mood today.)

• Snapshot (n): An informal photograph taken quickly.

  • I took a snapshot of my friends at the park. (I captured a quick, casual photo of them.)

• Snap fastener (n): Another term for a snap, the type of clothing closure.

  • The jacket has snap fasteners instead of buttons. (The jacket uses clicking closures.)

Synonyms

• Crack: A sharp sound, often of something breaking.
• Break: To separate into pieces.
• Bark: To speak or say something quickly and angrily.
• Click: A short, light, sharp sound.
• Breeze (informal, for an easy task): Something very easy to do.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Snap up: To buy or take something quickly and eagerly because it is a good opportunity.

  • Shoppers snapped up the sale items in minutes. (Shoppers quickly bought all the discounted goods.)

• Snap at:

  • To try to bite someone or something suddenly.

    • The dog snapped at the mail carrier.
  • To speak to someone in a sharp, angry way.

    • She snapped at her colleague for being late.

Related Idioms

• Snap one's fingers at: To show a lack of respect for someone or something; to defy or disregard.

  • He just snaps his fingers at the rules. (He completely ignores or disrespects the rules.)

• In a snap: Very quickly or instantly.

  • I'll have this finished in a snap. (I will complete this task very quickly.)

• A snap of the fingers: Used to indicate something happening very quickly or easily.

  • He can solve complex problems with just a snap of the fingers. (He can solve them almost instantly.)

Noun

1. (American football) putting the ball in play by passing it (between the legs) to a back
   • the quarterback fumbled the snap
2. the act of snapping the fingers; movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand
   • he gave his fingers a snap
3. any undertaking that is easy to do
   • marketing this product will be no picnic
4. a fastener used on clothing; fastens with a snapping sound
   • children can manage snaps better than buttons
5. an informal photograph; usually made with a small hand-held camera
   • my snapshots haven't been developed yet
   • he tried to get unposed shots of his friends
6. the tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed
   • the waistband had lost its snap
7. a sudden breaking
8. a sudden sharp noise
   • the crack of a whip
   • he heard the cracking of the ice
   • he can hear the snap of a twig
9. the noise produced by the rapid movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand
   • servants appeared at the snap of his fingers
10. a crisp round cookie flavored with ginger
11. tender green beans without strings that easily snap into sections
12. a spell of cold weather
    • a cold snap in the middle of May
13. the act of catching an object with the hands
    • Mays made the catch with his back to the plate
    • he made a grab for the ball before it landed
    • Martin's snatch at the bridle failed and the horse raced away
    • the infielder's snap and throw was a single motion

Verb

1. record on photographic film
   • I photographed the scene of the accident
   • She snapped a picture of the President
2. bring the jaws together
   • he snapped indignantly
3. lose control of one's emotions
   • When she heard that she had not passed the exam, she lost it completely
   • When her baby died, she snapped
4. cause to make a snapping sound
   • snap your fingers
5. put in play with a snap
   • snap a football
6. to grasp hastily or eagerly
   • Before I could stop him the dog snatched the ham bone
7. move with a snapping sound
   • bullets snapped past us
8. make a sharp sound
   • his fingers snapped
9. close with a snapping motion
   • The lock snapped shut
10. move or strike with a noise
    • he clicked on the light
    • his arm was snapped forward
11. break suddenly and abruptly, as under tension
    • The pipe snapped
12. separate or cause to separate abruptly
    • The rope snapped
    • tear the paper
13. utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
    • The sales clerk snapped a reply at the angry customer
    • The guard snarled at us