snatch

Universal Words verb, noun verb 1 [usually +adv./prep.] to take sth quickly and often rudely or roughly: [VN] She managed to snatch the gun from his hand. * Gordon snatched up his jacket and left the room. * [V] Hey, you kids! Don't all snatch! 2 [VN] to take sb/sth away from a person or place, especially by force; to steal sth: The raiders snatched $100 from the cash register. * The baby was snatched from its parents' car. 3 [VN] to take or get sth quickly, especially because you do not have much time: I managed to snatch an hour's sleep. * The team snatched a dramatic victory in the last minute of the game. PHRASALVERBS snatch at sth 1 to try to take hold of sth with your hands: He snatched at the steering wheel but I pushed him away. * (figurative) The wind snatched at our clothes. 2 to take an opportunity to do sth: We snatched at every moment we could be together. noun 1 a very small part of a conversation or some music that you hear SYNSNIPPET: a snatch of music * I only caught snatches of the conversation. 2 an act of moving your hand very quickly to take or steal sth: a bag / cash snatch * to make a snatch at sth IDIOMS in snatches for short periods rather than continuously: Sleep came to him in brief snatches.