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| Date: | 1500-1600 |
| Language: | Middle Dutch |
| Origin: | Middle Low German grabben |
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grab1 S3 W3
past tense and past participle grabbed, present participle grabbing [transitive]
past tense and past participle grabbed, present participle grabbing [transitive]1 to take hold of someone or something with a sudden or violent movement [= snatch]: I grabbed my bag and ran off. Two men grabbed her and pushed her to the ground.
with your hand
I grabbed my bag and ran off.Two men grabbed her and pushed her to the ground.2 to get some food or sleep quickly because you are busy [= snatch]: Why don't you go and grab some sleep? Hang on while I grab a cup of coffee. Let's grab a bite to eat before we go.
food/sleep
informalWhy don't you go and grab some sleep?Hang on while I grab a cup of coffee.Let's grab a bite to eat before we go.3 to get something for yourself, sometimes in an unfair way : Try to get there early and grab good seats. Bob tried to grab all the profit.
get something for yourself
Try to get there early and grab good seats.Bob tried to grab all the profit.4 to take an opportunity, accept an invitation etc immediately : Melanie grabbed at the invitation to go. This is our chance to grab a slice of this new market.
chance/opportunity
informal also grab at somethingMelanie grabbed at the invitation to go.This is our chance to grab a slice of this new market.5 to get someone's attention : The book is full of good ideas to grab your students' attention. The plight of the refugees immediately grabbed the headlines (=was the most important story in the newspapers).
get attention
The book is full of good ideas to grab your students' attention.The plight of the refugees immediately grabbed the headlines (=was the most important story in the newspapers).6 used to ask someone if they would be interested in doing a particular thing : How does the idea of a trip to Spain grab you?
how does something grab you?
spokenHow does the idea of a trip to Spain grab you?grab at/for something
phrasal verbI grabbed at the glass just before it fell.Lucy grabbed for the money.