snatch up
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: * To take or grasp something quickly and eagerly, often in a sudden or opportunistic manner.
Usage
This verb describes a swift, often decisive, action of taking possession of something. It implies speed and eagerness, and sometimes a sense of competition or seizing a fleeting opportunity. It is typically used with a direct object (the thing being taken).
Examples
- Shoppers snatched up the last few items on sale.
- He snatched up the phone before the second ring.
- The goalkeeper snatched up the loose ball.
Advanced Usage
- Figurative Use: Can be used for non-physical things, like opportunities or information.
- The company snatched up the talented engineer as soon as she became available.
- I snatched up a few useful tips from the lecture.
Variants and Related Words
- Snatch (verb): The base form, meaning to take something quickly or forcibly. "Snatch up" often adds a nuance of lifting or collecting from a surface.
- Grab (verb): A close synonym, though "snatch up" can sound slightly more eager or hurried.
Synonyms
- Seize
- Grab
- Take quickly
- Pluck
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Snatch away: To take something from someone quickly and often forcefully.
- The wind snatched away her hat.
Verb
- to grasp hastily or eagerly
- Before I could stop him the dog snatched the ham bone