nab

/næb/ (bre, ipa) · /næb/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnab/ (ame, mw)

nab — verb

  • nabpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • nabshe / she / it
  • nabbedpast simple
  • nabbing-ing form

1. informal — to seize a person who has done something illegal, or to quickly take

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

informal — to seize a person who has done something illegal, or to quickly take an item before anyone else can get it

例句

Police nabbed the thief as he tried to climb out of a window.

nab + person (criminal caught by police)

Hari nabbed the last piece of cake before anyone else could reach it.

nab + thing (food, taken quickly)

同義詞
  • catch

    neutral and broader; 'nab' is more informal and sudden

  • capture

    more formal and dramatic, often used for animals or enemies

  • grab

    focuses on quick physical taking of an object, not a person

  • pinch

    British slang for stealing; narrower and more regional

反義詞
  • release

    opposite of catching — letting someone go

  • miss

    opposite of grabbing — failing to take an opportunity

文法句型

nab + person (criminal, suspect, thief)

nab + thing (food, seat, prize)

用法筆記

Common in journalism and everyday speech, but not in formal legal writing — a court document would use "arrest" or "apprehend" instead. Subject is most often police or security forces when the object is a person.

常見錯誤

❌The police napped the robber yesterday.
✅The police nabbed the robber yesterday.
💡'nab' has a -b not -p, and the past tense is 'nabbed' (double b).
❌The court nabbed him for fraud.
✅The court found him guilty of fraud.
💡'nab' is for catching criminals in the act; courts convict and sentence, they do not 'nab'.