snap

snap¹ W3 [snæp] v past tense and past participle snapped present participle snapping

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1¦(break)¦

2¦(move into position)¦

3¦(say something angrily)¦

4¦(become angry/anxious etc)¦

5¦(animal)¦

6¦(photograph)¦

7 snap your fingers

8 snap to it

9¦(stop)¦

10 snap to attention

Phrasal verbs

　snap on/off

　snap out of something

　snap somebody/something<=>up

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[Date: 1400-1500; : Dutch; Origin: Low German snappen]

1.) ¦(BREAK)¦ [I and T]

to break with a sudden sharp noise, or to make something break with a sudden sharp noise

▪ A twig snapped under my feet.

▪ The wind snapped branches and power lines.

snap (sth) off (sth)

▪ I snapped the ends off the beans and dropped them into a bowl.

snap (sth) in two/in half

(=break into two pieces)

▪ The teacher snapped the chalk in two and gave me a piece.

2.) ¦(MOVE INTO POSITION)¦ [I,T always + adverb/preposition]

to move into a particular position suddenly, making a short sharp noise, or to make something move like this

snap together/back etc

▪ The pieces just snap together like this.

▪ The policeman snapped the handcuffs around her wrist.

snap (sth) open/shut

▪ She snapped her briefcase shut.

3.) ¦(SAY SOMETHING ANGRILY)¦ [I and T]

to say something quickly in an angry way

▪ 'What do you want?' Mike snapped.

snap at

▪ He snapped at Walter for no reason.

4.) ¦(BECOME ANGRY/ANXIOUS ETC)¦

to suddenly stop being able to control your anger, anxiety, or other feelings in a difficult situation

▪ The stress began to get to her, and one morning she just snapped.

▪ Something inside him snapped and he hit her.

5.) ¦(ANIMAL)¦ [I]

if an animal such as a dog snaps, it tries to bite you

snap at

▪ The dog started snapping at my heels.

6.) ¦(PHOTOGRAPH)¦ [I and T] [i]informal

to take a photograph

▪ Dave snapped a picture of me and Sonia.

7.) snap your fingers

to make a short, sharp noise by moving one of your fingers quickly against your thumb, for example in order to get someone's attention or to mark the beat of music

8.) snap to it

spoken used to tell someone to hurry and do something immediately

▪ Come on, snap to it, get that room cleaned up!

9.) ¦(STOP)¦ [T]

AmE to end a series of events - used especially in newspapers

▪ The Rockets snapped a seven-game losing streak by beating Portland.

10.) snap to attention

if soldiers snap to attention, they suddenly stand very straight

→↑snap-on

snap on/off phr v

to switch something on or off, or to switch on or off

snap sth<=>on/off

▪ Kathy snapped off the light.

▪ A light snapped on in one of the huts.

snap out of [snap out of sth] phr v

to stop being sad or upset and make yourself feel better

▪ Chantal's been depressed for days. I wish she'd snap out of it .

snap up [snap sb/sth<=>up] phr v

1.) to buy something immediately, especially because it is very cheap

▪ People were snapping up bargains.

2.) to eagerly take an opportunity to have someone as part of your company, team etc

▪ Owen was snapped up by Liverpool before he'd even left school.

snap ²

snap² n

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1¦(sound)¦

2¦(photograph)¦

3 be a snap

4¦(clothing)¦

5 a snap of somebody's fingers

6¦(game)¦

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1.) ¦(SOUND)¦ [singular]

a sudden loud sound, especially made by something breaking or closing

▪ He shut the book with a snap.

2.) ¦(PHOTOGRAPH)¦ informal especially BrE a photograph taken quickly and often not very skilfully

= ↑snapshot

▪ holiday snaps

3.) be a snap

AmE informal to be very easy to do

▪ The test was a snap.

4.) ¦(CLOTHING)¦ AmE

a small metal fastener on clothes that works when you press its two parts together

▪ baby clothing with snaps

5.) a snap of sb's fingers

a sudden sound made by quickly moving one of your fingers against your thumb

▪ At a snap of his owner's fingers, the dog came running.

6.) ¦(GAME)¦[U]

a card game in which players put down one card after another and try to be the first to shout 'snap' when there are two cards that are the same

→↑cold snap

snap ³

snap³ adj

1.) snap judgment/decision

a judgment or decision made quickly, without careful thought or discussion

2.) snap election

BrE an election that is announced suddenly and unexpectedly

snap ⁴

snap⁴ interjection

1.) BrE used when you see two things that are exactly the same

▪ Hey, snap! My hat's the same as yours.

2.) said in the game of snap when two cards that are the same are put down