Definition

1. Noun:

   • A quick, sudden, or eager grasp or grab: The act of seizing something hastily or forcefully with the hands.
   • A small fragment or brief extract: A short, incomplete piece of something, such as music or conversation.
   • A brief period of time: A short, often interrupted, span of time.
   • A weightlifting exercise: A lift in which the barbell is raised from the floor to overhead in one continuous, rapid motion.
   • (Law) Kidnapping: The unlawful act of seizing and carrying away a person.
   • (Vulgar slang) Female genitals: An obscene term.

2. Verb:

   • To seize hastily, eagerly, or abruptly: To take something quickly, often with a sudden movement.
   • To take or remove something suddenly, especially by force: To grab something away from someone or something.
   • To kidnap: To seize and carry off (a person) against their will.
   • To take or get something briefly or when the opportunity arises: To manage to get something, such as rest or food, in a short or opportune moment.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • He made a snatch at the letter as it blew away. (He tried to grab it quickly.)
  • I only heard snatches of their argument from the next room. (I heard only brief, unclear parts.)
  • She managed to get a snatch of sleep between meetings. (She got a very short period of sleep.)
  • The athlete trained for the clean and snatch. (He trained for the specific weightlifting movements.)

• Verb:

  • The thief snatched her purse and ran. (The thief grabbed her purse suddenly and ran.)
  • The eagle snatched the fish from the water. (The eagle seized the fish quickly.)
  • He snatched a moment to check his messages. (He took a brief opportunity.)
  • The dog snatched the bone before I could stop him. (The dog grabbed the bone hastily.)

Advanced Usage

• "to snatch at": To make a quick, often desperate, attempt to grab or accept something.

  • She snatched at the opportunity to study abroad. (She eagerly seized the opportunity.)
  • The child snatched at the toy. (The child made a quick grab for the toy.)

• "to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat": To win at the last moment when defeat seemed certain.

  • The team scored in the final second to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. (They achieved a last-minute, unexpected win.)

• "to snatch someone from the jaws of death": To rescue someone at the very last moment from a fatal situation.

  • The firefighters snatched the children from the jaws of death. (They saved the children from almost certain death.)

Variants and Related Words

• Snatcher (n): A person who snatches, especially a thief or kidnapper.
  • The police are looking for the purse snatcher.
• Snatchy (adj, informal): Occurring in brief, irregular bursts; not smooth or continuous.
  • His breathing was snatchy after the run.

Synonyms

• Verb: Grab, seize, clutch, wrench, pluck, kidnap, abduct.
• Noun: Grab, clutch, fragment, snippet, bit, piece.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Snatch away: To take something away suddenly.
  • The wind snatched away her hat.
• Snatch up: To pick up or take something quickly.
  • He snatched up the phone as soon as it rang.

Related Idioms

• In snatches: For short, intermittent periods.
  • She slept in snatches during the long flight.
• A snatch of time: A very brief moment.
  • I'll try to call you when I have a snatch of time.

Noun

1. 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
2. a weightlift in which the barbell is lifted overhead in one rapid motion
3. (law) the unlawful act of capturing and carrying away a person against their will and holding them in false imprisonment
4. obscene terms for female genitals
5. a small fragment
   • overheard snatches of their conversation

Verb

1. take away to an undisclosed location against their will and usually in order to extract a ransom
   • The industrialist's son was kidnapped
2. to make grasping motions
   • the cat snatched at the butterflies
3. to grasp hastily or eagerly
   • Before I could stop him the dog snatched the ham bone