See Also: snatch(1)(dictionary)
snatch(2)(dictionary)
snatch 1, verb(dictionary)
snatch 2, noun(dictionary)
snatch squad(dictionary)
Snatch - Weight Lifting(gambling)
Snatch Block - Sailing(gambling)
Snatch Game - Poker(gambling)

snatch(2) (iou)



snatch verb. ME.
[Obscurely rel. to SNACK verb and SNECK noun1, implying a base repr. by Middle & mod. Dutch snakken gasp, perh. orig. open the jaws suddenly: cf. SNAP verb.]
verb intrans.
a. Suddenly snap or bite (at something). ME.
b. Suddenly catch at a thing, in order to secure hold or possession of it. Usu. foll. by at. M16.
R. Frame I..snatched at the handbrake. fig.: J. F. Hendry He snatched at Frau Faehndrich's invitation to stay at her villa.
verb trans. Seize or take hold of suddenly, quickly, or unexpectedly. Also foll. by up. M16.
snatch it, snatch one's time Austral. slang resign, leave a job and take the wages due.
K. Mansfield He snatched his bowler hat..and swung down the garden path. K. Amis He..turned off the water and snatched up the towel. fig.: G. Greene I must snatch a moment away from these harpies.
verb trans. Seize, catch, or take suddenly away, from, off, or out of. L16.
E. A. Freeman A new English host was coming to snatch the victory from the conquerors. J. Galsworthy The young man, snatching off his hat, passed on. G. Keillor Mrs. Meiers snatched him out of his seat.
verb trans. Remove suddenly and quickly from sight or life. Usu. foll. by away, from. L16.
G. Berkeley Several who are snatched away by untimely death. C. Bowen Clouds snatch from the Teucrians' sight Sunlight and sky.
verb trans. Save or rescue from or out of danger etc., by prompt or vigorous action. E17.
Evening Post (Nottingham) A 'brave and heroic'..housewife today snatched three small children from a blazing house.
verb trans.
a. Steal (a wallet, handbag, etc.), esp. by grabbing suddenly. M18.
A. Paton Boys snatched a bag..from an old white woman.
b. Kidnap. colloq. (orig. US). M20.
News of the World Plotting to have the youngster snatched from school.
verb trans. Nautical. Place (a rope or line) in a snatch-block. M18.
verb trans. Partake hurriedly or with difficulty of (food, sleep, etc.). E19.
D. Cecil They snatched some breakfast..in the glimmering dawn light.
verb intrans. Of a mechanism or its control in a motor vehicle, aircraft, etc.: run jerkily or roughly. M20.
Comb.: snatch-back the action of taking something back, esp. suddenly and forcibly; snatch-block Nautical a block with a hinged opening to receive the bight of a rope; snatch crop: grown for quick returns without regard to the future productivity of the soil; snatch squad Military a group of soldiers detailed to seize troublemakers in a crowd.
snatchable adjective L19.
snatcher noun a person who or thing which snatches; esp. a thief, a robber, (colloq.) a kidnapper: L16.