1315
snatch
'snail mail n [U] humor. an expression meaning the ordinary system of sending letters by post, used by people who normally send messages by EMAIL
'snail's pace n [S] infml a very slow speed or rate of activity
snake¹ /sneɪk/ n 1 an animal with a long thin limbless body, large mouth, and FORKED tongue, that usually feeds on other animals and often has a poisonous bite: The snake slithered/wriggled away.
CULTURAL NOTE Snakes are often used in stories to represent evil, and they are thought of as very dishonest and likely to trick people. Typical examples are the SERPENT that influences Eve in the Bible and the snake in The Jungle Book. In the Harry Potter books, the main evil character is described as having eyes like a snake. Snakes are also used in a lot of frightening and exciting films because many people are afraid of them. → see also Cultural Note at SERPENT
2 derog a deceitful person 3 tech a system in which the values of certain countries' money are allowed to vary against each other within narrow limits 4 snake in the grass derog, often humor a false friend → compare SERPENT
snake² v [I+adv/prep; T+obj+adv/prep] to move in a twisting way; wind (one's way or body) in moving: The train snaked (its way) through the mountains.
snake-bite /ˈsneɪkbaɪt/ n [C;U] 1 the bite of a poisonous snake 2 BrE an alcoholic drink made from LAGER and CIDER
'snake charmer n a person who controls snakes, usually by playing music, as a public entertainment
CULTURAL NOTE In pictures, especially CARTOONS, Indian snake charmers are often shown playing a pipe and making a snake rise out of a basket.
'snake eyes n [P] infml a situation in a game in which a pair of DICE both show one spot
'snake oil n [U] AmE any substance sold as a medicine which is in fact worthless or harmful
snake pit n AmE an uncomfortable place full of danger or trouble
Snakes and 'Ladders BrE || Chutes and Ladders AmE trademark a type of BOARD GAME for children, with special spaces on the board with pictures of LADDERS, which help you move forward more quickly, and other spaces with pictures of SNAKES or CHUTES, which move you backwards so that you lose your advantage
snak-y /ˈsneɪki/ adj like a snake, especially in winding or twisting: a snaky road
snap¹ /snæp/ v -pp- 1 [I;T] (usually of something thin and stiff) to (cause to) break suddenly and sharply off or in two parts: The branch snapped under the weight of the snow. | I snapped the stick in half. | She snapped off a piece of chocolate. | (fig.) My nerves finally snapped under the pressure of work. 2 [I+adv/prep; T+obj+adv/prep] to move so as to cause a sharp sound like something suddenly breaking: The lid snapped shut. 3 [I(at);T] to speak or say quickly, usually in an annoyed way: He tends to snap at people when he's got a headache. | 'You're late!' she snapped. | He snapped out an order. 4 [I(at)] to close the jaws quickly: The dog was snapping at my ankles. (=trying to bite them) 5 [T] infml to photograph 6 snap one's fingers to attract attention by making a noise by moving the second finger quickly along the thumb: (fig.) He comes running to help her whenever she snaps her fingers. (=whenever she demands it) 7 snap one's fingers at BrE to show no respect for: As an artist she's always snapped her fingers at convention. 8 snap out of it infml [usually imperative] to free oneself quickly from an unhappy or unhealthy state of mind 9 snap someone's head off infml to answer someone in a sharp angry way: I just asked a
simple question; there's no need to snap my head off! 10 snap to it || also snap it up AmE — to hurry up: Come on, snap to it!
snap sthg. ⇔ up phr v [T] to take or buy quickly and eagerly: It's a real bargain; you should snap it up!
snap² n 1 [C] an act or sound of snapping: The branch broke with a snap. | He summoned the waiter with a snap of his fingers. 2 [C] also snapshot — an informal photograph taken with a hand-held camera 3 [C] (in comb.) a thin dry sweet BISCUIT: ginger snaps 4 [U] a card game in which players lay down cards one after the other and try to be the first to notice and call out 'snap' when two similar cards are laid down together 5 [U] infml eager effort; ZIP: Come on, put some snap in it! 6 [S] AmE infml something that is very easy to do 7 AmE for PRESS-STUD 8 snap, crackle, and pop a phrase used in an advertisements for Rice Krispies, a breakfast CEREAL, describing the noise it makes when milk is poured on it → see also COLD SNAP
snap³ adj [A] done quickly and without warning or long consideration: The prime minister called a snap election to take place in four weeks' time. | It's risky to make snap judgments.
snap⁴ interj BrE 1 infml (said when one notices two similar things together): Snap! You're wearing the same hat as me! 2 (said in the game of SNAP² when one notices that two similar cards have been laid down)
snap-dragon /ˈsnæpˌdrægən/ also antirrhinum n a garden plant with white, red, pink, or yellow flowers
'snap fastener also 'snap button n AmE for PRESS-STUD → see picture at FASTENER
snap-per /ˈsnæpər/ n a fish found in warm seas, often used as food
snap-pish /ˈsnæpɪʃ/ adj speaking habitually in a rude annoyed way; bad-tempered —ly adv —ness n [U]
snap-py /ˈsnæpi/ adj infml 1 stylish; fashionable: a snappy dresser (=someone who wears stylish clothes) 2 make it snappy also look snappy BrE — (usually imperative) to hurry up —pily adv. —piness n [U]
snap-shot /ˈsnæpʃɒt||-ʃɑːt/ n a SNAP
snare¹ /sneər/ n 1 a trap for catching an animal, especially an apparatus with a rope or wire which catches the animal's foot: a rabbit snare 2 also snares pl. a situation or course of action that may lead to one being trapped or deceived
snare² v [T] 1 to catch (as if) in a snare 2 infml to get by skilful action: You've snared a good job there!
'snare drum n a small flat military kind of drum used also in bands, having metal springs stretched across the bottom to allow a continuous sound
snarf /snɑːf||snɑːrf/ v [T] AmE slang to eat something very quickly: Don't lie! I saw you snarfing down all those doughnuts!
snarl¹ /snɑːl||snɑːrl/ v 1 [I(at)] (of an animal) to make a low angry sound while showing the teeth: The dog snarled at me. 2 [I(at);T] to speak or say in an angry bad-tempered way: 'Shut up!' he snarled.
snarl² n an act or sound of snarling; angry GROWL: He gave a vicious snarl.
snarl³ v [T(UP) usually pass.] to twist or mix together so as to make movement difficult: Traffic was badly snarled (up) near the accident.
'snarl-up n a confused state, especially of traffic
snatch¹ /snætʃ/ v 1 [I;T] to take hold of (something) with a sudden quick often violent movement; GRAB: Don't snatch, children; ask for it nicely. | The thief snatched her handbag and ran. | The boy was snatched from his home by two armed men. 2 [T] to take quickly as chance allows, sometimes wrongfully or without permission: I snatched a look at the answers while the teacher was out of the room. | He managed to snatch an hour's sleep on the train. —er n: There's a gang of bag snatchers (=people who snatch HANDBAGS) working the park.
snatch at sthg. phr v [T] 1 to try to snatch: He snatched at the ball but dropped it. | She snatched wildly at the branches as she fell. 2 to accept or try to get eagerly: She was always ready to snatch at any opportunity for advancement.
snatch² n 1 [(/at)] an act of snatching (at) something: He made a snatch at the piece of paper, but too late – it had blown