snatch
/snætʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /snætʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsnach/ (ame, mw)
snatch — verb
- snatchpresent simple I / you / we / they
- snatcheshe / she / it
- snatchedpast simple
- snatching-ing form
1. to take something quickly by reaching out and holding it firmly, often in a roug
to take something quickly by reaching out and holding it firmly, often in a rough or impatient way
A thief snatched the woman's purse as she unlocked her car door.
Diego snatched the restaurant bill before his friend could reach it.
snatch + direct object showing competitive grabbing
The toddler snatched the biscuit from the packet and stuffed it into his mouth.
Elena snatched the keys off the table and ran out before anyone could stop her.
文法句型
snatch + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used with a preposition like 'from' or 'off' to show where something is taken.
常見錯誤
2. to take a person or thing away from a place or from someone by using strength or
to take a person or thing away from a place or from someone by using strength or threats, often as part of a crime
Kidnappers snatched the young girl from her garden while her mother was inside the house.
snatch + person + from + place, for kidnapping context
Armed robbers snatched several valuable paintings from the gallery during the night.
The gang snatched the delivery truck's cargo at gunpoint on the highway.
Police believe the same group snatched tourists from beaches across the region last summer.
文法句型
snatch + someone/something + away/from
用法筆記
Unlike sense GRAB (verb/1), this sense emphasises the removal of a person or object from its original place, and often has a criminal context. The object can be a person (kidnapping) or a thing (theft by force).
3. to manage to do, get, or use something in a very short time, especially when you
to manage to do, get, or use something in a very short time, especially when you are busy and have little time available
The nurse snatched a quick cup of tea between the two operations.
snatch + a + [brief activity/rest] — limited-time pattern
Wei snatched an hour of sleep on the airport floor before his connecting flight.
The journalist snatched a few words with the singer before the concert began.
Ananya snatched a look at her phone during the boring meeting under the table.
文法句型
snatch + a(n) + [time/rest/meal/bite/look]
用法筆記
The object is almost always a brief period or modest amount: time, sleep, rest, meal, bite, look, word(s). It cannot be used for sustained activities ('snatched a marathon').
常見錯誤
4. to achieve or win something at the last possible moment, especially when you see
to achieve or win something at the last possible moment, especially when you seemed certain to lose or fail
The home team snatched victory with a goal in the final minute of injury time.
snatch + victory — common sports collocation
Fatima snatched the gold medal from the defending champion by less than a tenth of a second.
snatch + [prize/award] + from + [competitor]
The small publishing house snatched the rights to the best-selling novel at the auction.
Kiran snatched the leadership position by winning over the undecided delegates at the last minute.
- surrender
to give up a position or prize willingly
文法句型
snatch + [victory/a win/victory from the jaws of defeat]
用法筆記
Common in sports reporting and competitive business contexts. Often used with 'from' to name the opponent who was expected to win.
5. in the sport of weightlifting, to raise a weighted bar from the ground all the w
in the sport of weightlifting, to raise a weighted bar from the ground all the way up past your head in a single flowing motion, without pausing
The lifter successfully snatched 120 kilograms at the national championship.
snatch + [weight in kilograms] — standard phrasing
Yuki has been training every day to be able to snatch her own body weight.
The coach watched closely as the athlete prepared to snatch the loaded barbell.
Kai set a new personal record when he snatched 150 kilos at the regional games.
文法句型
snatch + [weight/kilograms]
用法筆記
This is a technical term in Olympic weightlifting. The other main lift is the 'clean and jerk'. Only this sense takes a weight or kilogram phrase as the object.
常見錯誤
snatch — noun
- snatchsingular
- snatchesplural
1. a quick, rough act of trying to take something using your hand, often in a sudde
a quick, rough act of trying to take something using your hand, often in a sudden or impatient way
The goalkeeper made a snatch for the ball but it slipped past his fingers.
make a snatch for + [something] — common verb + noun pattern
Olu's sudden snatch at the letter tore the envelope right down the middle.
With a quick snatch, the magician pulled the coin from the child's ear.
The cat made a snatch at the fish on the counter and missed by inches.
文法句型
a snatch [at/for] something
make a snatch
2. a very short piece of something that you hear, see, or remember, especially with
a very short piece of something that you hear, see, or remember, especially without getting the whole thing
I caught a snatch of their conversation as I walked past the open window.
catch a snatch of + [conversation/music/song] — set phrase
An old man on the bus was humming a snatch of a melody from the 1950s.
Mei remembered only a snatch of the dream after the alarm woke her up.
From the radio in the taxi we heard a snatch of a news bulletin about the storm.
文法句型
a snatch of + [something heard/remembered]
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the pattern 'a snatch of + noun'. The noun is usually something you perceive — conversation, music, song, melody, news — or a memory.
常見錯誤
3. in Olympic weightlifting, a type of competition lift where the athlete pulls a h
in Olympic weightlifting, a type of competition lift where the athlete pulls a heavy bar off the platform and pushes it straight up above their head in a single, fluid motion
Her personal best in the snatch is 95 kilograms at the national level.
personal best / record in the snatch — evaluative pattern
In the snatch, the bar must be lifted overhead in a single motion without pausing.
The referee signalled that the snatch was valid and the crowd cheered loudly.
Zara won the gold medal with a clean snatch of 103 kilograms on her final attempt.
文法句型
the snatch
a [weight] snatch
用法筆記
Distinguish from the other weightlifting event, the 'clean and jerk', which involves two movements. In competition, 'the snatch' is usually performed first.
常見錯誤
4. an extremely offensive word for the female sexual organs, mainly used as an insu
an extremely offensive word for the female sexual organs, mainly used as an insult or in vulgar language
The comedian was criticised for using the word 'snatch' as a crude joke during the live show.
register warning: extremely offensive, avoid in polite speech
Several viewers complained about the song because it used the word 'snatch' in a degrading way.
文法句型
[the] snatch
用法筆記
This is a highly offensive term. Do not use it in any polite, professional, or educational context. It is included here only so that learners can recognise it and understand that it is not appropriate to use.
常見錯誤
❌ Using this word accidentally when you mean 'a snatch of conversation' or 'to snatch something.' — These are unrelated senses. The vulgar sense has a distinct etymology and is never confused by native speakers.
5. the crime of taking a person away by force and keeping them as a prisoner, usual
the crime of taking a person away by force and keeping them as a prisoner, usually to get money for returning them
The snatch of the wealthy banker's son made front-page news across the country.
the snatch of + [person] — news-reporting pattern
Police set up a special team to investigate the snatch that happened outside the school gates.
The gang planned the snatch of a local politician but the plot was discovered in time.
Neighbours described the snatch as quick and quiet, with no one noticing until the car drove away.
- kidnapping
more common in both British and American English
- abduction
more formal; also used in legal contexts
文法句型
a snatch
a snatch of + [person]
用法筆記
This sense is more common in British English news reporting than in American English, where 'kidnapping' or 'abduction' are the usual terms. Often used with 'of' to name the victim.