▪ I. snap, n.
(snæp)
Also 5–7 snappe, 7 (9) snapp.
[Related to snap v. Cf. Du. snap, LG. snap, snapp, late MHG. snap (G. schnapp masc.; also schnappe fem.) in the same or related senses.]
I. 1. A quick or sudden closing of the jaws or teeth in biting, or of scissors in cutting; a bite or cut made in this way. Also fig. and in fig. context.
| 1495 in Blackw. Mag. Apr. (1908) 506/1, 1 bay mare, a snappe in the left ear and in the right ear a ferthyng. 1555 Eden Decades (Arb.) 170 Whiche cutteth a man in sunder..at one snappe with his teethe. 1592 Greene Upst. Courtier Wks. XI. 247 At euery word a snap with your sissors. 1634 Canne Necess. Separ. (1849) 20 Craving to be put into one of the priests' offices, that he may have a snap at a crust of bread. 1725 De Foe Voy. r. World (Bohn) 299 He took the scissors, and at one snap set them at liberty again. 1816 Scott Antiq. iii, He had the scent of a slow⁓hound..and the snap of a bull-dog. 1899 F. V. Kirby Sport E.C. Africa iv. 51 The huge jaws opened once and shut with a vicious snap. |
2. slang. a. A share (cf. snack n.2 3); something worth securing or getting hold of; an odd chance; a good place or job.
| 1561 J. Awdelay Frat. Vacab. (1869) 4 An Vpright man..may cal them to accompt, & commaund a share or snap vnto him selfe, of al that they haue gained by their trade in one moneth. a 1800 Pegge Suppl. Grose s.v., To go snaps is to go halves in anything. 1864 Slang Dict., Snapps, share, portion; any articles or circumstances out of which money may be made. ‘Looking out for snapps,’ waiting for windfalls or odd jobs. 1893 Dispatch (Columbus) 20 Feb., ‘A public office is a public trust.’ The clerks regard it rather as a public ‘snap’. 1897 Flandrau Harvard Episodes 259 He's on the lookout for snaps. |
b. Theatr. A short engagement.
| 1882 Adventures Billy Shakespoke v. 89, I dropped in to see my old partner..and he proposed that we should try another ‘snap’ in Lynn. 1885 Santa Fé Weekly New Mexican 24 Sept. 4/6 It is the custom, during the summer months, for ‘snap’ companies to travel through the country and gather shekels. a 1891 Freund Music & Drama XIV. xvi. 3 (Cent.), Actors and actresses who have just come in from ‘summer snaps’ to prepare for the work of the coming season. |
c. = soft snap s.v. soft a. 29. Chiefly N. Amer.
| 1877 H. Ruede Sod-House Days 120 It is no snap, for the straw rolls out fast enough to keep them very busy. 1901 Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 27 Oct. 3/4 Formerly porters received as low as $15 a month and this wage in a buffet car was at one time considered a snap, as tips were wont to bring a man's income up to all the way from $100 to $200 a month. 1924 P. Marks Plastic Age xxiv. 287 He had three classes in literature, one in music—partly because it was a ‘snap’ and partly because he really wanted to know more about music—and his composition course. 1936 V. Sheean Personal Hist. i. 3 The football players, the social lights, the pretty co-eds, and all the other students who regarded study as an inconvenient detail in college life, rushed to inscribe themselves for ‘snap’ courses. 1962 A. Lurie Love & Friendship viii. 180 The new semester has started, and I have a whole new selection of little ‘creative writers’ on my hands{ddd}the course is rumored to be a Snap (one thinks of those paper crackers at children's parties). 1967 Technology Week XX. 95/2 (Advt.), Blazing a path to the moon is no snap. Neither is charting a career. |
3. A small piece or portion; a scrap, fragment, or morsel. a. In emphatic use, as not a snap, every snap. Now dial.
| 1610 Beaum. & Fl. Scornf. Lady iv. i, Come, come, you would know it;..but not a snap, never long for't, not a snap dear Ladie. 1690 W. Walker Idiomat. Anglo-Lat. 423 They leave not a snap i' th' dish; i.e. eat all up; every bit and snap. 1837 Wilson's Tales Borders III. 257 The puir hungry wratches will eat it up, every snap, afore morning. 1875 Dickinson Cumbriana 10 Then he choppt up a drinkin' glass an' eat it ivery snap. |
b. In general use. ? Obs. (freq. in 17th cent.).
| 1626 B. Jonson Staple of N. i. v, Hee's a nimble Fellow! And alike skil'd in euery liberall Science, As hauing certaine snaps of all. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. v. xiv. 411 He may get some almes of learning, here a snap, there a piece of knowledge, but nothing to purpose. 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 260 Our Burses being but Snaps of Buildings to these famous Buzzars. |
4. A slight or hasty meal or mouthful; a snack. Now dial. or spec. (cf. quot. 1883). Also in Comb., as snap-time, snap-tin.
Not always clearly distinguishable from prec.
| 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iii. xii. 5 It is one thing to laugh at them in transitu, a snap and away, and another to make a set meal in jeering them. 1655 ― Ch. Hist. xi. ii. 59 Henry Burton..rather took a snap then made a meal in any University. 1668 R. Steele Husbandman's Calling x. (1672) 251 The Egyptian dogs do taste the waters of Nilus for fear of the crocidiles, a snap and away. 1700 Motteux Quix. (1733) II. 55 The Curate's Provision..was but a Snap among so many, for they were all very hungry. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xxx, First taste a snap of right Hollands. 1858 Geo. Eliot Scenes Clerical Life, Janet's Repent. i, Two hearty meals that might have been mistaken for dinners, if he had not declared them to be ‘snaps’. 1883 Gresley Gloss. Coal-m. 229 Snap,..food taken by a collier during his shift. 1913 D. H. Lawrence Sons & Lovers i. 25 She..put him out a clean scarf and snap-bag. Ibid. iv. 65, I went to put my coat on at snap-time. 1935 A. J. Cronin Stars look Down i. ix. 67 ‘Come on, ye old beggor, and have yer snap,’ Tom called out with his mouth full of bread and cheese. 1960 C. Day Lewis Buried Day vii. 131 The black-faced miners cycling home from work with their snap-tins bumping at their sides. 1980 Guardian 11 Nov. 8/3 At 10 o'clock the regular farm hands disappeared to the dutch barn for their ‘snap’. |
5. a. A sudden snatch or catch at something; a quick movement or effort. † to lie at (or upon the) snap, to lie in wait. † by snaps, fitfully, spasmodically.
| 1631 T. Powell Tom of All Trades 42 A Sea Soldier may now and than chaunce to haue a snapp at a bootie. 1648 Hexham ii, Een Luymer, ofte Loerer, one that Lies upon the Snap, or Leers what one saith. c 1660 Songs & Poems Costume (Percy Soc.) 152 With sugared words they lye at snap, But I'le be sure to watch 'um. 1692 L'Estrange Josephus (1733) 860 Now Apollonius does not carry on his Malice..in a continu'd set Discourse, but now and then by Snaps as the Humour takes him. 1755 Johnson, Snap,..a catch; a theft. 1823 E. Moor Suffolk Words, Snap,..any sharp, quick, short motion. 1882 Jamieson's Sc. Dict., Snap, a sudden..grip, or seizure of any kind. |
b. Angling. One or other of different methods of fishing for pike (see quots.).
| 1651 T. Barker Art of Angling (1820) 23 There is a way to take a Pike, which is called the taking of a Pike by snap, for which angling you must have a pretty strong rod. Ibid. 28 That other fine trick, Which our Artists call Snap, with a Goose or a Duck. 1787 Best Angling (ed. 2) 45 Angling for the pike at the snap is to let him run a little, and then to strike him, the contrary way from whence he runs, with two strong jerks. 1847 T. Brown Mod. Farriery 902 At both troll and snap some persons have two or more swivels to their line. |
c. in a snap, in a moment, immediately.
So WFris. yn ien snap, G. in einem schnapp, LG. mit ên(em) snapp.
| 1768 Ross Helenore 119 An' now the fead [= feud] is softn'd..The face o' things is alter'd in a snap. 1801 Spirit Public Jrnls. IX. 381 I'll put you to rights in a snap. |
d. A card-game, in which the call of ‘snap’ under certain conditions (esp. when two matching cards are exposed) gives to one player the right to take cards from another. Also attrib., as snap-card.
| 1881 Cassell's Bk. Indoor Amusements 144 The game of Snap may either be played with the ordinary Whist cards or with special cards prepared for the purpose. 1890 Champlin & Bostwick Young Folks' Cyclopaedia Games & Sports 659/1 Snap, a game played by any number of persons with 36 cards. 1903 Cassell's Bk. of In-door Amusem. 125 Snap..may be played either with the ordinary whist cards, or with a special pack manufactured for the purpose. [Description follows.] 1916 N. & Q. 9 Sept. 210/1 Who designed the illustrations that appear on snap cards, and when did they first appear? 1966 J. Derrick Teaching English to Immigrants v. 188 Much pre-reading apparatus can be used for this purpose, such as word-matching cards, snapcards, word lotto, and other sets of apparatus where identifying and matching single words is involved. |
e. A temporary faro game.
| 1845 J. J. Hooper Some Adventures Capt. S. Suggs x. 133 I'll never bet on two pair agin! They're peart at the snap game, theyselves; but they're badly lewed this hitch! 1864 W. B. Dick Amer. Hoyle 208 Snap, [in Faro] a temporary bank, not a regular or established game. 1938 H. Asbury Sucker's Progress 280 A few of the river gamesters ran Faro snaps when ashore in St. Louis, but most of them concentrated on Poker. |
f. A U.S. party game in which one of the players chases another round a ring formed by the rest.
| 1865 B. L. Ridley Battles & Sk. Army of Tennessee (1906) 481 Games [in Georgia] soon began—‘Thimble’, ‘Snap’, and kissing songs. 1930 Virginia Jrnl. Educ. Oct. 73 Social intercourse [in the mountains of Virginia] was very limited. Monthly religious meetings at widely scattered churches, occasional parties at which ‘Boston’, ‘Snap’ and ‘Shaker's Dance’ were played all night long. 1944 G. Wilson Passing Institutions 93 Our liveliest game was Snap, a game that used to seem very exciting but now somewhat resembles Drop the Handkerchief. |
g. U.S. and Canad. Football. = snap-back 1 b.
| 1922 P. D. Haughton Football & how to watch It 30 Watch the offensive ends begin their mad rush downfield at the snap of the ball. 1947 Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch 9 Nov. b7/7 From a single-wing formation to the right, Deuber, the tailback, took the snap and set sail wide around Virginia's left end. 1958 Edmonton Jrnl. 7 Aug. 7/2 London kicker Legg fumbled a snap on the third down. 1974 Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) 27 Oct. 2-c/3 Penn State.. converted a fumbled snap into the game's first score only three minutes into the first period. |
6. A curt or sharp speech or manner of speaking; an angry dispute.
| 1648 Hexham ii, Een Snap, a Snap, or a Taunt. 1745 Mrs. Delany Life & Corr. (1861) II. 395 The least disapprobation, or snap, from the person I wish to oblige. 1760–2 Goldsm. Cit. W. lxxiv, The moment I ventured to speak I was at once contradicted with a snap. 1859 Habits of Gd. Society vii. 245 ‘Beg your pardon,’ answered Tibbs, with a sharp snap, which makes the words sound like ‘Don't be a fool!’ 1897 W. Beatty Secretar 254 It was while I was watching this game..that we had a bit snap with one another. |
7. a. A brief and sudden spell of cold, winter, etc. orig. U.S.
| 1740 T. Smith Jrnl. (1849) 268 We had..two or three snaps of cold weather, else constantly warm. 1776 Ibid. 279 A dismal cold snap of weather. 1885 H. C. M{supc}Cook Tenants Old Farm 114 If there comes a snap of cold. 1899 Daily Telegr. 31 Mar. 6/5 She felt the effects of the snap of winter last week. |
b. A sharp and sudden frost; a short spell of cold weather. Chiefly in cold snap (very common in recent use).
| 1829 P. Hawker Diary (1893) II. 9 A determined ‘black snap’... Harbour all ice. 1830 Ibid. 14 The tightest snap on record. 1848 Bartlett Dict. Amer. 316 ‘A cold snap,’ i.e. a period of sudden cold weather. A common expression. 1892 W. Pike Barren Ground N. Canada 237 The cold snap continued for several days. |
8. Mus. Scotch snap: (see quots. and Scotch a. 4).
| 1789 Burney Hist. Mus. IV. 272 The Scots snap seems to have been contagious in that School [the Neapolitan] at this time. 1875 Stainer & Barrett Dict. Mus. Terms s.v. Scotch, Scotch snap, a peculiarity of the comparatively modern Scotch melodies in which a short note precedes a long one. |
9. a. = snap-shot n. 1.
| 1851 G. H. Kingsley Sport & Trav. (1900) 526 Before I had recovered my senses sufficiently to take a desperate snap at him. 1860 W. H. Russell Diary India I. xxi. 346 Fellows took snaps at us from balconies, from doors on the roofs of houses. |
b. = snap-shot n. 2.
| 1894 Amer. Ann. Photogr. 251 The exposures were mostly ‘snaps’. 1899 St. George's Hosp. Gaz. VII. 91 An extremely pretty set of Kodak ‘snaps’ are contributed by Mr. Peck. 1950 Nat. Geogr. Mag. Apr. 514/1 We..eventually secured a few satisfactory snaps of the ordinary garden variety of jump. 1977 Time 26 Sept. 31/2 They even had a prospectus put together for publishers and included some sample snaps. |
10. Wrestling. A throw made when the hold of one of the wrestlers on the other is broken.
| 1868 J. Robinson & S. Gilpin Wrestling 57 The stewards were inclined to bring the fall in a ‘snap’, but the vanquished man very honourably declared himself to be fairly thrown. |
11. a. Alertness, energy, vigour, ‘go’. orig. U.S.
| 1865 Harper's Mag. Jan. 145/2 [They were] good enough people in their way, but had no snap about them. She liked people with snap. 1872 Beecher Lect. Preaching x. 185, I like to see a man who has got snap in every part of him. 1885 Harper's Mag. Jan. 286/1 There are few..factories which have not ‘snap’ enough to make a..pair of samples at half a day's notice. 1894 Doyle Sherlock Holmes 60 A young, pushing man with plenty of snap about him. |
b. transf. Of writings, etc.
| 1870 ‘Mark Twain’ Lett. to Publishers (1967) 49, I should write the book as if I went through all these adventures myself—this in order to give it snap and freshness. 1885 G. S. Merriam S. Bowles II. 375 The vigorous vernacular, the pithy phrase of the Yankee farmer, gave zest and snap to many a paragraph. 1896 Peterson's Mag. Jan. 111/1 A delightful little tale, full of romance, snap, and brightness. |
II. † 12. a. Thieves' Cant. = cloyer2 1. Obs.
| 1592 Greene Conny Catch. Pref. p. iv, When the Foist, the picke pockets (sir reuerence I meane) is cros-bitten by the Snap, and so smoakt for his purchase. Ibid. Wks. (Grosart) X. 38 He that bringeth him in, a Nip, He that is halfe with him, the Snap. 1611 Middleton & Dekker Roaring Girl D.'s Wks. 1873 III. 220 Then there's a cloyer, or snap, that dogges any new brother in that trade, and snappes, will haue halfe in any booty. |
† b. A sharper or swindler; a sly or treacherous fellow. Obs.
Freq. in 17th c. in cunning snap or subtle snap.
| 1622 Fletcher Sp. Curate ii. i, Take heed of a Snap, Sir, ha's a cozening countenance, I do not like his way. 1653 A. Wilson Jas. I, 288 Butler being a subtle Snap, wrought so with his companion that he got the possession of it. 1699 R. L'Estrange Colloq. Erasm. (1711) 206 There were a great many cunning Snaps that had the Plot in the Wind. |
c. Applied to persons in somewhat slighting use, but without implication of bad qualities.
| 1653 Wharton Comets Wks. (1683) 141 Why do I discourage the poor Snap? 1671 Skinner Etymol. Ling. Angl., A merry Snap,..alacer, lepidus, agilis. 1676 Wycherley Pl. Dealer ii. i, Come, lady, pray snap up this young snap at first. 1703 Thoresby Let. Ray, Snap, a lad or servant; now mostly used ludicrously. |
d. dial. (See quot. and snap-dog s.v. snap-.)
| a 1796 Pegge Derbicisms (E.D.S.) 123 Snap, a mongril greyhound with a short tail, excellent at snapping, or jumping on a hare. |
e. U.S. A trick, deception, trap; also in phr. to give the snap away.
| 1844 Lexington (Kentucky) Observer 18 Sept. 3/1 Mr Van Buren..with his characteristic politeness declined to be caught in any such snap. 1885 Weekly New Mexican Rev. 2 July 4/3 He was roped into this snap by Chicago sharpers. 1900 Congress. Rec. 15 Feb. 1850/2 Ex-Senator Vilas gave the snap away when he said [etc.]. 1919 E. Hough Sagebrusher 501 If that girl's not blind she'll get out and give this snap away. |
III. 13. † a. (See quot.) Obs.—0
| 1611 Cotgr., Pelican,..a Snap, or Dog; the toole wherewith Barbers pull out teeth. |
b. A pistol. nonce-use.
| 1775 Sheridan Rivals iv. i, For your curst sharps and snaps, I never knew any good come of 'em. |
c. A snap-hook.
| 1839 Salter in T. C. Hofland Brit. Angler's Man. v. 125 This snap-hook is a double hook, or two single hooks, No. 6, tied back to back, on gimp; to bait this snap, use the baiting-needle. 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Rural Sports i. v. iii. 256 The plain snap is made in several ways, as follows. |
d. A device or implement used for rounding the head of a rivet.
| 1869 Rankine Mach. & Hand-tools Pl. P. 14, The snap, c, has a conical projection at the end, which fits exactly into a corresponding recess in the die. 1890 W. J. Gordon Foundry 48 The rivet was inserted from the inside, and held in position by the holder, and the snap outside. 1900 Hasluck Mod. Eng. Handy-bk. 124 Rivet with a small hammer, and, for appearance sake, finish with a snap. |
| attrib. 1869 Reed Shipbuild. xvii. 329 The snap-point is sometimes formed on snap-headed rivets, and nearly always so in machine riveting. 1874 Thearle Naval Archit. 127 This snap tool consists of a hollow cup of steel welded to a punch head for striking upon. 1889 Welch Text Bk. Naval Archit. iv. 75 ‘Snap punch’—a tool provided with a hemispherical hollow at one end. |
e. In miscellaneous uses (see quots.).
| 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 2229/1 Snap,..an implement used in making glassware. 1883 Gresley Gloss. Coal-m. 229 Snaps, a haulage clip. 1888 Addy Sheffield Gloss., Snaps, a horizontal vice. 1888 Nicholson Coal Trade Gloss., Snap, a small flat pointed pick, used on the screens. 1976 Eastern Daily Press (Norwich) 16 Dec. 13/4 The friction strips which make the bang are known as ‘snaps’ in the industry. 1980 Daily Tel. 25 Nov. 15/5 Those who felt inspired to make their own crackers..may have encountered some difficulty in finding the vital bangers, called snaps in the trade. |
14. † a. An ear-ring, fastened with a spring-catch. Obs.—1
| 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) III. 29 A pair of diamond snaps in her ears. |
b. A spring-catch, clasp, or fastening, or one closing with a snapping or clicking sound.
| c 1815 Houlston's Juvenile Tracts, Cork Jacket 4 She took off her spectacles, and put them carefully into an old fish skin case with a snap to it. 1859 Habits of Gd. Society iv. 179 Rows of pearls, confined by a diamond snap, are beautiful in every [evening] dress. 1903 F. J. Garrard Watch Repairing 156 Bottoms and bezels are sometimes jointed to the case band, and sometimes are loose, being merely snapped tight. These circular snaps, as they are called, are much more dust tight than a joint can be. |
c. pl. Hand-cuffs. slang.
| 1895 J. Caminada Twenty-Five Years Detective Life 49, I put the ‘snaps’ on ‘Pudding’, and conveyed him..to Livesey Street police station. 1910 [see nipper n.1 4 c]. 1958 M. Procter Man in Ambush x. 119 We got the snaps on him and locked him up. 1967 ― Exercise Hoodwink xxv. 178 Sergeant, we'd better have the snaps on these three. |
d. U.S. A press-stud or snap-fastener. Usu. pl.
| 1964 McCall's Sewing xii. 221/1 Snaps are used to hold fabrics together where there is little strain on the garment. They give a neat flat closure. 1968 J. Updike Couples (1970) ii. 160 Frank's delicate hand uncoupled her bra snaps. 1977 New Yorker 27 June 72/3 The [pillow]slip is homemade, with snaps at one end. |
IV. 15. a. A quick, sharp sound or report.
| 1611 Cotgr., Niquet,..a knicke, clicke, snap with the teeth, or fingers. 1687 Miége Gr. Fr. Dict. ii. s.v., It gave such a snap, that it made me startle, cela fit un si grand bruit [etc.]. c 1710 C. Fiennes Diary (1888) 153 Set the Coales together with some fire and it shall give a snap and burn up light. 1767 Franklin Lett. Wks. 1840 V. 414 In our small experiments, we call this light and sound the electric spark and snap. 1825 Scott Talism. iv, A spring bolt,..the snap of which resounded through the place. 1856 Kane Arctic Expl. I. xii. 136 With a crack like the snap of a gigantic whip, the ice opened. 1880 Mrs. J. H. Riddell Myst. Palace Gard. xxx, Edwina shut the book with a snap. |
(b) snap, crackle, (and) pop, an advertiser's catchphrase representing the lively sound produced by a brand of breakfast cereal when milk is added; used allusively and in transf. senses for breakfast cereal or for vigour or energetic behaviour.
| 1954 Daily Mail 15 Dec. 2/1 (Advt.), With their fascinating ‘Snap! Crackle! Pop!’ as the milk's poured on, Rice Krispies really do seem to be talking. 1959 Times Lit. Suppl. 27 Mar. 179/4 In the 1950s the whole of America, Canada, Australia, England and parts of Europe are eating cereals for breakfast—snap, crackle, pop. 1960 Guardian 17 Mar. 9/2 Marples..always acting with that zestful snap, crackle, pop that entertains as much as it nourishes. 1962 ‘R. Gordon’ Doctor in Swim xi. 66 Now the poor fellow was as jumpy as a plate of snap-crackle-pop when you pour the milk on. 1962 F. Williams Amer. Invasion ii. 20 With every snap, crackle and pop on the breakfast table the American accent carries farther. 1963 Trade Marks Jrnl. 1 June 730/2 Snap Crackle Pop. 851,181. Cereal preparations made of rice for food for human consumption. Kellogg Company of Great Britain Limited..Manchester, 3rd July 1963. 1965 Times Lit. Suppl. 22 Apr. 315/5 When due allowance has been made for the chapter's snap crackle pop style. 1977 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 28 Apr. 11/4 But the few paragraphs of real information are hard to find in the snap, crackle, and pop of gossip and insult. 1979 P. Levi Head in Soup vii. 128 Snap, crackle, pop. The telephone went dead. |
b. In negative phrases denoting complete disregard or indifference.
| 1833 S. Smith Life & Writings J. Downing 43 As long as I have President Jackson to look to for paymaster, I don't care a snap about sending in any bills. a 1852 F. M. Whitcher Widow Bedott Papers (1856) xxii. 232 If you don't care a snap for him, what makes you go with him to lecters, and concerts, and sleigh rides? 1859 Farrar J. Home ii. 19 Should you care the snap of a finger for the opinion or the acquaintance of a man [etc.]? 1877 Spurgeon Serm. XXIII. 60 Never caring a snap of the fingers whether it offended or whether it pleased. 1897 Henty Irrawaddy 338, I don't care a snap for the titles. |
16. The act of snapping or breaking suddenly; a break or fracture.
| 1755 Johnson, Snap, the act of breaking with a quick motion. 1828–32 Webster, Snap, a sudden breaking or rupture of any substance. 1891 C. Roberts Adrift Amer. 73 In the majority of cases the snap is so clean that a green hand would most likely pass it by. |
17. a. Sc. and north. dial. A small, usually round, cake or biscuit of crisp gingerbread; a ginger-snap.
| 1818 Scott Br. Lamm. xii, She will gie ye a ginge-bread snap for your pains. 1852 Carlyle in Froude Life in Lond. II. 110 The main panes round, and about the size of a biggish snap. 1855 [Robinson] Whitby Gloss., Snaps, thin round gingerbread cakes for children. |
b. attrib., as snap-machine, snap-wife, snap-woman.
| 1831 R. Shennan Poems 42 The auctioneers and snap-wives too, Had staid to try what they could do. 1871 Carlyle in Mrs. Carlyle Lett. I. 110 Beggars, ballad-singers, snap-women, &c. 1884 Knight Dict. Mech. Suppl. 826/1 Snap Machine, a machine for cutting a blanket of dough into snaps. |
18. U.S. (See quots.)
| c 1770 J. Randolph Treat. Gardening in Gardiner & Hepburn Amer. Gardener (1818) 275 French beans and snaps are the same. 1842 C. M. Kirkland Forest Life II. xli. 165 ‘Snaps’ are green beans. 1848 Bartlett Dict. Amer. 316 Snaps, young kidney-beans in the pod. 1872 Schele de Vere Americanisms 410 Such are the beans, known in England as Kidney-beans or French-beans, while here they are called String-beans..or Snaps, and occasionally Snap-beans. |
▪ II. snap, a. Sc.
(snæp)
[Cf. MDa. snap quick, smart.]
Quick; smart; sharp.
Jamieson's Sc. Dict. (1882) also gives: ‘short-tempered, surly’; ‘brittle, short-grained, crisp’; these senses may be derived from snap v.
| 1790 Shirrefs Poems 352 She is a lass fu' snap To grant her patronage. a 1796 Burns Poem Pastoral Poetry ix, Nae snap conceits, but that sweet spell O' witchin' love. |
▪ III. snap, v.
(snæp)
Also 6 snappe, snoppe, 7 snapp.
[app. ad. MDu. or MLG. snappen (so mod.Du. and LG.; Fris. snappe), = MHG. snappen (G. schnappen); Da. snappe, Sw. snappa are also from LG. The stem is prob. based on that of MHG. snaben, MLG. snaven, of similar meaning; cf. MHG. snabel, MLG. snavel beak, bill.]
I. 1. a. intr. Of animals: To make a quick or sudden bite at something; to feed on in this way.
| 1530 Palsgr. 723/2, I snappe at a thyng to catche it with my tethe. Ibid., His horse snapped at myne arme. c 1592 Marlowe Jew of Malta v. ii, Like the Asse..That labours with a load of bread and wine, And leaues it off to snap on Thistle tops. 1648 Winyard Midsummer Moon 2 This makes the mad bandog snap at all hee meets. a 1653 Gouge Comm. Heb. iii. 13 Fair baits, whereby dangerous hooks are covered over to entice silly fish to snap at them. 1710 Addison Tatler No. 120 ¶3 A little Lap-Dog, that barked and snapped at every one. 1832 Irving Alhambra II. 261 The seven dogs..snapping at the heels of the terrified friar. 1875 W. S. Hayward Love agst. World 14 The fox turns and snaps viciously at his relentless pursuer. |
| fig. 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, iii. ii. 357 If the young Dace be a Bayt for the old Pike, I see no reason..but I may snap at him. |
b. Without const.
| 1555 Eden Decades (Arb.) 236 The hounde..approcheth so neare hym snappynge and grynnynge. 1633 P. Fletcher Purple Isl. xi. xxv, A gentle greyhound set around With little curres, which dare his way molest, Snapping behinde. a 1692 L'Estrange (J.), All mungrel curs bawl, snarl, and snap. 1858 Holmes Aut. Breakf.-t. viii, Settle snapping-turtles snap..before they are out of the egg-shell. |
| fig. 1589 Nashe Martin Marprelate Wks. (Grosart) I. 122 The Preachers of the faction..begin to snappe and to turne. 1782 F. Burney Cecilia ix. i, Never mind, my chick,..more to be had; if one won't snap, another will. 1884 Kendal Mercury 3 Oct. 5/2 All the newspapers abroad have been set a-barking and snapping, big dogs and little dogs alike. |
2. a. To utter sharp, tart, or cutting words or remarks; to speak or reply irritably or abruptly. Usu. with at.
| 1579 L. Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 1002/1 By this word, he snappeth at them which haue their eyes so dazeled with these flitting thinges. 1635 E. Pagitt Christianogr. To Rdr., Let him confute the maine plot..and not snap and cavil onely at some particulars in it. 1666 Wood Life (O.H.S.) II. 89 Dr. Fell..snapt up and told me ‘I should pay [etc.].’ 1693 Ibid. 13 July, He would not suffer him to speak for snapping and snarling. 1786 tr. Beckford's Vathek (1868) 68 He was afraid of being snapped at by Shaban his tutor. 1825 E. Hewlett Cottage Comforts xii. 193 They humour the child till they are out of patience with him, and then snap at him. 1865 Trollope Belton Est. xxiv. 286 Every now and then speaking a word, and restraining himself from snapping at his rival. |
b. trans. To utter (words) in an angry, sharp, or peevish manner or tone.
| 1683 Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.) Rehearsal i. i. (ed. 4) 6 Whereupon I presently snapt this upon her; Non, non, Madam [etc.]. 1853 Surtees Sponge's Sp. Tour (1893) 297 ‘You can't know all about it!’ snapped Mr. Sponge. 1884 Browning Family 36 The next in age snapped petulant: ‘Too rash!’ 1897 Rhoscomyl White Rose Arno xxviii. 298 He tore into the long reaches behind, panting and snapping curses. |
c. Similarly with out.
| 1888 F. Hume Mme. Midas i. ii, Slivers was just going to snap out a refusal. 1902 R. Bagot Donna Diana viii. 99 She snapped it out, however—the plain, vulgar word porco. |
3. † a. Thieves' cant. To go shares with a thief or sharper. Cf. snap n. 2. Obs.
| 1609 Field Woman's a Weathercock iv. ii, Thou snapp'st besides with cheats and cutpurses. 1611 [see snap n. 12 a]. |
b. To snatch, to make a quick or eager catch, at a thing. Also fig.
| 1673 Dryden Marr. à la Mode i. i, A man in these hard times snaps at them as he does at broad gold. 1691 Wood Ath. Oxon. I. 313 Such..are apt to snap at anything to please themselves. 1741 Chinese Lett. vi. 34 They delay to take a Revenge,..and when they find an Opportunity, they snap at it greedily. 1778 F. Burney Diary 3 Aug., Any bookseller, will snap at what you write. 1827 Scott Jrnl. 10 July, His resignation was eagerly snapped at. 1898 Pr. Ranjitsinhji With Stoddart's Team x. (ed. 3) 198 Storer in his eagerness snapped at the ball which otherwise would have landed safely into short slip's hands. |
c. to snap short, to fail to get or obtain.
| 1677 W. Hughes Man of Sin ii. v. 95 Lay-men may not tast the Cup at all... Their Clergy..will not snap short as the Laity must. 1732–8 Swift Polite Conv. 109 Snap short makes you look so lean, Miss. |
† d. Sc. To attempt to do something. Obs.
| 1766 A. Nichol Poems 19 If some auld swinger snap to speak Of pink-ey'd queans, he gives a squeek. |
† 4. a. To strike or stab at one. Obs.—1
| 1626 B. Jonson Staple of N. ii. Interm. (1905) 54 I'ld not giue a rush for a Vice, that has not a wooden dagger to snap at euery body he meetes. |
† b. To pounce upon a person or thing. rare.
| 1648 Hexham ii, Een Snap-haen, a Robber that Snaps upon one in the high way. 1679 T. Puller Moder. Ch. Eng. (1843) 41 Those who love not to be contained in any good bounds when they read the Bible, choose to do it out of all canonical order, or generally snap upon the chapters fortuitously. |
II. 5. a. trans. To catch, capture, or seize quickly, suddenly, or by surprise.
Common in the 17th c.; now chiefly dial., or spec. in Cricket.
| 1568 T. Howell Arb. Amitie (1879) 86 And shall I thus an wofull wretch, be snapt in sugred snare? 1582 Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 46 My coosen was snapt by wycked Vlisses. 1625 Fletcher & Shirley Nt. Walker ii, The chest is of some weight, and we may make Such noise ith carriage we may be snap'd. c 1645 Tullie Siege of Carlisle (1840) 6 They..failed in snapping Col. Graye's small regement of horse at Stanwick. 1699 Bentley Phal. 103 The Doctor finds Stesichorus in danger of being snapt in his intended Journey. 1720 De Foe Capt. Singleton x. (1840) 182 We should snap her in the morning. 1798 O'Keeffe Wild Oats v. i, I wish we could snap any straggler to bring before her. 1823 Scott Quentin D. xxxvi, She is not quite goose enough to fall in love with the fox who has snapped her. 1855 Browning Fra Lippo 76 As I was stealing back again..You snap me of the sudden. 1872 Wisden 23 John Smith stayed with Mr Grace until 63 runs were made, when Pooley snapped him. 1898 Pr. Ranjitsinhji With Stoddart's Team x. (ed. 3) 195 Iredale also secured an ‘egg’, Storer snapping him at the wicket. |
| transf. and fig. 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Prendre au pied levé, to snappe one in wordes, to take him at aduantage. a 1677 Barrow Serm. Wks. 1716 II. 104 Alexander was snapt in the flower of his age and glory. 1706 Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) I. 303 A Daughter who by chance snap'd a Gentleman Commoner..of a considerable Estate. 1859 Watson's Bards Borders 73 If disease them didna snap, He wad ha'e plenty tatties. |
b. To snatch for one's own use; to take to oneself with a quick movement; to steal or purloin in this manner. Also with away.
| 1624 Wotton in Reliq. (1651) 88 There was near Bayon, an Herd of Goats.., upon which sight the said Sir R. Greham tells the Marquess, he would snap one of the Kids. 1697 Dryden Virg. Past. iii. 24 Did I not see you, Rascal,..When you lay snug to snap young Damon's Goat? c 1756 in W. Wing Ann. Steeple Aston (1875) 57 A simple hare, had he but snapt, Or partridge in the wood. 1821 Scott Kenilw. xx, See that he snap them [gold buttons] not away. 1858 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. ii. xiv. (1872) I. 129 Neighbouring potentates..snapped away some convenient bit of territory. 1899 S. MacManus In Chim. Corners 133 Doesn't one of the king's men snap the shoe off his foot. |
c. To catch or seize with a quick bite or snap. Also in fig. context.
| 1687 Miége Dict. ii. s.v., An unlucky dog snapt my leg. a 1716 South Serm. (1717) IV. 162 He who has escaped in many Battles,..by playing too often at the Mouth of Death, has been snapped by it at last. 1760 Jortin Erasmus II. 153 The ægyptian dogs, when they drink at the Nile, are said to run all the while, for fear of being snaped by the Crocodiles. 1824 Mactaggart Gallovid. Encycl. 499 Now a trap did snap him:.. A rafter down did fa', Which catch'd a leg. 1863 Cowden Clarke Shaks. Char. vi. 161 They think it a mere flouting at the gifts of Providence if they do not snap the bait like gudgeons. |
d. To secure, obtain, take up, quickly or readily.
More frequently with up: see 6 c.
| 1798 O'Keeffe Wild Oats ii. iii, Oh, here he is! Trap. Snap him at any terms. 1905 Westm. Gaz. 15 Feb. 9/1 Recent issues have been readily snapped. |
e. To secure the passing or giving of (decisions, legislation, etc.) without allowing due time for consideration or discussion.
| 1883 Gibson Sp. in Parlt. 14 Aug., To snap legislation..which they were not gravely asked to pass at the time when it could have been carefully considered. 1885 Law Rep. 29 Chanc. Div. 453 He was defeated by the Defendant going to another Court and managing to snap a judgment first. 1901 Scotsman 11 Mar. 9/4 They were strong enough..to prevent hasty decisions being snapped behind the backs of the people. |
f. U.S. and Canad. Football. To put (the ball) in play by passing it quickly backwards to begin a scrimmage; to make a snap (sense 5 g). Also with back.
| 1887 Outing Oct. 70/1 In a scrimmage he places it on the ground, and at a signal from his quarter, snaps the ball back by a downward and backward pressure with his foot. 1920 W. Camp Football without Coach iii. 48 Now let us say the quarter calls the signal..the play would get under way and the center would snap him the ball. 1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 3 Feb. 37/6 During such periods, when a pass is incomplete or a ball goes into touch, time will not resume until the ball has been snapped on the next play. 1973 Philadelphia Inquirer (Today Suppl.) 7 Oct. 42/1 Moss lights up and hunches over his desk, like a linebacker waiting for signals. The ball is snapped; he's off. |
g. To match (an exposed card in a game of snap); to call out ‘snap!’ to (an opponent).
| 1935 Encycl. Sports 568/2 In case a player calls snap when there is nothing to snap on the table, the cards in front of him go to a pool. Ibid., Grimace snap is extremely simple. Instead of snapping each other, the two players are under contract to make each other laugh, to which they may do anything except speak. |
6. With up: a. = senses 5, 5 b, and 5 c.
| 1550 Coverdale Spir. Perle x. 84 Whan we liue in ydlenes, in al lust and pleasure, the deuyl snappeth vs vp. 1601 J. Wheeler Treat. Comm. 59 The single Merchant..is many times snapped vp and made a praye to Dunkerkers, and other Sea rouers. 1692 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) II. 427 A yatch..is missing, and 'tis feared is snapt up by some French privateer. 1732 Tricks of Town 9 The Dog is instantly snapp'd-up, and convey'd away..to some filthy Cellar or Garret. 1823 Scott Quentin D. vii, Tristan but pretends to mistake, that he may snap up the kindly Scots that come over to see their kinsfolks. 1865 Ruskin Sesame i. §33 We snap up anything in the way of a scientific bone that has meat on it. 1884 Spectator 4 Oct. 1287/2 Merchant⁓steamers..would be snapped up by the fast cruisers of the enemy. |
| fig. 1809 Malkin Gil Blas ix. vi. (Rtldg.) 320 Then..I snapped up the words out of his mouth. To be sure, my tongue did run at a fine rate against him. |
b. To secure (a girl) in marriage.
| 1842 Barham Ingol. Leg. Ser. ii. Merch. V. (1905) 245 Portia..Is not to be snapp'd up like little potatoes. 1865 Trollope Belton Est. x. 116 The conquest of Clara would not be too facile. She was a woman of value, not to be snapped up easily. 1889 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms xxxvi, All the girls about here are getting snapped up quick. |
c. = sense 5 d.
| 1873 Punch 20 Sept. 118/1 When you see one at that price, don't wait to write, but snap him up—buy him for me. 1887 Jessopp Arcady vii. 196 Every little outlying farm was snapped up and bought by country gentlemen. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer (1891) 402 Cattle..were snapped up at eight-pounds-ten a head. |
d. To eat up quickly or hastily.
| 1808– in dial. glossaries (Sc., Lanc., Wilts., Somerset, etc.). |
7. With off: a. To bite off (a limb, etc.) sharply and quickly. Also transf., to drink off quickly.
| c 1590 Greene Fr. Bacon iii. 34 We will to the tavern and snap off a pint of wine or two. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado v. i. 116 Wee had likt to haue had our two noses snapt off with two old men without teeth. 1700 S. L. tr. Fryke's Voy. E. Ind. 16 The Carpenter..had his Arm and Shoulder snap'd off. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) VI. 241 The shark darted upon him..and snapped off his leg. |
b. to snap one's nose, or head, off, to speak or reply to (a person) in a curt, sharp, ungracious, or angry manner.
| 1709 [see nose n. 9 c]. 1742 Mrs. Delany Life & Corr. (1861) II. 166 Old G. snapped my nose off for saying I had sent for him. 1861 Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. xxvii, Do you ever snap people's noses off, or tell them you think them very foolish. 1886 F. Robinson Courting May Smith i. xiv, If I had not been quite sure he would have snapped my head off. 1950 T. S. Eliot Cocktail Party i. ii. 60 Have you looked in your bag?..Well, don't snap my head off. 1976 J. I. M. Stewart Memorial Service i. 12 He adores the place... That's why he snaps your head off if you venture to say a good word for it. |
8. a. To catch or take (one) up with an abrupt or sharp remark. Also with short.
| 1647 Hexham i, Snapped him up,..berispte hem. 1649 Nicholas Papers (Camden) 156 The King grew very chollerick and angry and did snap him up very short. 1691 Wood Ath. Oxon. II. 185 William Earl of Exeter..snapped him up for a begging scholar. 1797 Mrs. Radcliffe Italian xxii, You always snap me up so short at the beginning. Ibid. xxiii, I don't much like to be snapped up so. 1848 Dickens Dombey xliv, ‘Susan Nipper,’ snapping her up particularly short, ‘a month's warning from this hour’. 1883 J. Payn Thicker than Water xx, If I am snapped up in this manner, and not permitted to go on,..argument is impossible. |
b. To interrupt or snub, to cut short, in an abrupt or peevish manner. Also with off.
| 1687 Miége s.v., To snap one, or to speak roughly to him. 1722 De Foe Col. Jack ii. (1840) 30 He snapped me short, Why, says he, how shall I get them to him? 1796 M. Robinson Angelina III. 172 To be sure your ladyship did snap and snub her confoundedly. 1837 Hood United Family i, One liking this, one hating that, Each snapping each, like dog and cat. 1899 W. Raymond No Soul above Money ii. i, Never waiting to snap a body off short who had any little favour to ask. |
9. a. To bring down by a quick shot.
| 1828 P. Hawker Diary (1893) I. 342 The only plan was..to snap down the birds as they rose. |
b. To take (an instantaneous photograph); to snap-shot.
| 1890 St. Nicholas Oct. 1034 A hand camera, with which he followed the babies about, ‘snapping’ them in their best positions. 1892 Pall Mall G. 20 Apr. 6/1 The privilege of ‘snapping’ photographs from the pier. |
c. intr. To take instantaneous photographs.
| 1891 Anthony's Photogr. Bulletin IV. 202 Perhaps the circus has been in town, and you've snapped on the elephants. Ibid., Why, you were snapping away for dear life. 1894 Westm. Gaz. 2 Jan. 7/3 The photographers..were busily at work snapping at everything and anything. |
III. 10. trans. a. To close (the jaws, mouth, etc.) suddenly or with a snap.
| 1573 Twyne æneid xii. Nn ij b, He [a dog] snoppes his iawes, and is deceaued [h]is bit by half an inche. 1852 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. viii. 57 Tom, whose great heavy mouth had stood ajar,..now suddenly snapped it together. 1904 Field 6 Feb. 208/1 He snapped his beak with a noise like pistol shots. |
b. To wink or blink (the eyes) quickly or angrily (cf. 14).
| 1847 Halliw. s.v., To snap the eye, i.e. to wink. 1907 W. W. Jacobs Short Cruises 205 Mr. Wragg, snapping his eyes nervously, threatened in vain. |
11. a. To pull the trigger of or fire (a pistol); to strike (a flint, etc.).
| 1673 Justiciary Proc. (S.H.S.) 131 [They] saw the gun presented and snapped. 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 307, I, snapping an uncharg'd Pistol. 1743 Bulkeley & Cummins Voy. S. Seas 83 The Lieutenant, bringing a Pair of Pistols to the Carpenter,..did not imagine they were loaded, snapping the first it miss'd Fire. 1847 Infantry Man. (1854) 42 He..will be taught to snap caps. 1857 Holland Bay Path xxvi. 334, I..drew the old charge, and snapped it two or three times, to let the children see the fire roll. |
b. Const. at a person or thing.
| 1798 Ld. Auckland Corr. (1862) III. 418 He snapped a pocket-pistol at him, which missed him. 1825 Hone Every-day Bk. I. 1288 He had the imprudence to snap an unloaded pistol at him. 1852 Thackeray Esmond i. v, The officer, drawing a pistol, snapped it at his lordship. |
c. To fire off (questions).
| 1874 R. Tyrwhitt Sketch Club 39 They are apt to flash or snap questions at each other as in a French novel. |
12. a. To cause (something) to make or give out a sharp sound of the nature of a click or crack; to close or fasten, to open or shut, etc., with this sound; to crack (a whip); to jerk out with a snap; to switch off or on, or to shut to, with a snapping sound; to cause (fabric, elastic, etc.) to make such a sound.
| 1714 Mrs. Manley Adv. Rivella 82 The Man..got up nimbly into his Coach-box, snapt his Whip. 1747 Richardson Clarissa xxxi. (1749) I. 198 Many a fan have I caused to be snapped at a sister beauty. 1781 Cowper Table-T. 477 Tyranny..Slips the slave's collar on, and snaps the lock. 1853 R. S. Surtees Sponge's Sp. Tour (1893) 153 Snapping his toothpick against the frame of his chair. 1889 Brit. Jrnl. Photogr. XXXVI. 605/2 How can any one snap his shutter at the right moment unless he is carefully watching the object. 1893 Kipling Many Invent. 196 Gisborne snapped out the empty shells [from his rifle]. 1911 H. S. Harrison Queed 68 Queed cleverly bethought him to snap on an electric light. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 21 Haines helped himself [to a cigarette] and snapped the case to. 1925 F. Scott Fitzgerald Great Gatsby viii. 191 About five o'clock it was blue enough outside to snap off the light. 1926 J. Masefield Odtaa xvi. 277 He snapped-to the breech of his rifle. 1949 B. A. Botkin Treas. S. Folklore ii. iii. 252 Both Bilbo and Gene Talmadge were famous for their red suspenders, which Talmadge loved to snap. 1962 J. Updike Centaur (1963) vi. 178 He laughed and behind me I could hear all the Caucasus laughing and snapping their towels and flipping their silvery genitals. 1979 R. Jaffe Class Reunion (1980) ii. vii. 248 Ken was dressed, snapping on his wrist-watch. Ibid. 254 Ken snapped off the TV with his remote control. |
| absol. 1880 ‘Mark Twain’ Tramp Abr. xxiv. 206 She got to snapping the lid of her smelling-bottle,—it made a loud sharp sound, but..she snapped and snapped away. |
b. To cause (the fingers) to make a sharp noise by striking against the ball of the thumb, esp. as a sign of delight or contempt. Also fig.
| [1671 Skinner Etymol. Ling. Angl. X xx j b, To snap with ones fingers,..digitis concrepare, vel crepitare. 1721 in Bailey.] 1742 Fielding J. Andrews i. xvii, He then snapped his fingers,..and took two or three turns about the room in an extacy. 1821 J. Baillie Metr. Leg., Columbus xlviii. 20 The..Indian..foots the ground like vaunting child, Snapping his thumbs with anticks wild. 1839 T. Mitchell Frogs of Aristoph. 66 note, At its conclusion he snaps his fingers in sovereign contempt. 1886 Jerome Idle Th. 36 It is not until you have snapped your fingers in Fortune's face..that she begins to smile upon you. |
c. to snap one's fingers at, to treat with indifference or contempt; to disregard or ignore.
| 1806 Scott 11 Feb. in Lockhart, I hope I shall be very soon able to..snap my fingers at the bar and all its works. 1861 Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. xli, You'll..be able to snap your fingers at them all. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped xxiii, The men of his country..would have snapped their fingers at the Court of Session. |
d. absol. To strike at with a snapping sound.
| 1852 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. iv. 22 He set her on his broad shoulder, and began capering and dancing with her, while Mas'r George snapped at her with his pocket-handkerchief. |
13. intr. a. Of things: To make or emit a sharp cracking sound or report; to crack, crackle.
| 1673 Justiciary Proc. (S.H.S.) 131 He heard not the gun snapp. 1727 Boyer Dict. Royal ii, To snap, (or to give a snap), éclater, faire du bruit. 1768 J. Byron Narr. Patagonia (ed. 2) 74 Cedar..makes a brisk fire, but is..subject to snap and fly. 1789 Coleridge The Nose iv, Hear ye my entrails how they snap? 1855 Browning Old Pictures in Florence i, No flash snapped, no dumb thunder rolled. 1884 E. P. Roe Nat. Ser. Story ii, My caps only snapped. |
b. To move or slide into place, to close or shut, to fit home or in, to come off, with a snap.
| 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §241, I..gave it a violent pull, upon which it snapped into its place. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 2229/2 Snap-lock,..a lock with a spring latch which snaps shut. 1891 Kipling Light that Failed (1900) 217 The studio door snapped behind her. 1892 Greener Breech-Loader 63 They are liable to miss fire if the lever does not snap ‘home’. 1967 Boston Sunday Herald Mag. 26 Mar. 26/2 (Advt.), Quality absorbent reusable cotton pad snaps in—removes easily for laundering. 1976 Columbus (Montana) News 1 July 3/3 (Advt.), Safety grilles snap off to clean. 3-speed 20{pp} Fan. |
14. a. Of the eyelids or eyes: To open and close quickly in an angry manner.
| 1870 E. E. Hale Ten Times One ii. (Cent. Dict.), How Caroline's eyes snapped and flashed fire! 1899 B. Capes Lady of Darkness ii, Ned..saw his Madonna jerk erect, her eye⁓lids snapping. |
b. Of jaws, etc.: To close with a snap.
| 1899 F. V. Kirby Sport E.C. Africa iv. 51 The great jaws snapped like the teeth of so many wolf-traps. |
IV. 15. intr. a. To break suddenly and (usually) with a sharp noise or report; to give way or part suddenly owing to strain or tension.
Du. snappen and Fris. snappe have also this sense.
| 1602 Marston Ant. & Mel. i. Wks. 1856 I. 14 What a slender waste he hath! Heele snap in two at every little straine. a 1631 Donne Poems, The Storm (1633) 58 Our tacklings Snapping, like too-high-stretched treble strings. 1799 J. Robertson Agric. Perth 236 Scotch oak..is found to snap over when used as ribs to a ship. 1819 Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life (1870) II. iii. 76 Four or five glasses snapped, one after another. 1850 Scoresby Cheever's Whalem. Adv. xiv. (1858) 198 Another line was taken on board, which immediately snapped. 1897 W. H. Thornton Rem. W.-Co. Clergyman vi. 181 Even strong harness snaps when subjected to a sudden jerk. |
b. fig. or in fig. context.
| 1822 Shelley Triumph Life 158 The fiery band which held Their natures, snaps. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. iii. iii. i, When the so-called Bonds of Society snap asunder. 1876 C. M. Yonge Womankind xviii. 137 When your power of arresting mischief snaps. 1896 A. E. Housman Shropshire Lad ix, Sharp the link of life will snap. 1927 Wodehouse Meet Mr Mulliner ix. 310 Something seemed to snap in James. The scales seemed to fall from James's eyes. 1933 E. O'Neill Days without End (1934) i. 49 He knew..she was going to die... He..saw that no miracle would happen... Something snapped in him then. 1970 A. Fry How a People Die xxiv. 212 Something snapped. I lost my temper and I chewed that poor guy out from hell to breakfast. |
c. To be broken off with a snap.
| 1806 Med. Jrnl. XV. 497 Such a violent spasm of the jaw that a piece of one of the incisor teeth snapped off. 1842 S. Lover Handy Andy xlvii, The butt-ends of the muskets snapped off like tobacco pipes. 1892 Stevenson Across Plains ii. 87 Without a nod of warning, the huge pine-tree snaps off short. |
d. colloq. To change one's behaviour or position quickly, esp. to snap back: to recover; to snap (in)to: to throw oneself smartly into (an action); to snap out of: to desist from (an attitude, etc.), to change a mood, pattern of behaviour, etc., by sudden effort. Freq. as imp. snap out of it.
| 1918 in F. A. Pottle Stretchers (1929) ix. 239 Oh, snap into it! We want to get this done. 1918 [see hit v. 23 e]. 1928 Sat. Even. Post 7 Jan. 9/3 Oh, for heaven's sake, Lucia, snap out of it and act like a human being. 1941 N. Marsh Death & Dancing Footman (1942) vi. 114 Do snap out of being all Freudian. 1943 K. Tennant Ride on Stranger xviii. 205 Time we were getting a move on... Snap into it, Joe. 1944 Sun (Baltimore) 13 Jan. 5/1 If the Government acts quickly.., the aircraft industry will snap back quickly. 1962 J. Glenn in Into Orbit 18 We had to demonstrate how well we could undergo all kinds of stress and discomfort and then snap back again. 1967 [see ownsome]. 1967 Boston Sunday Herald 14 May (This Week Mag.) 15/3 The Senator..spent half an hour persuading a very reluctant repairman to come. ‘Why,’ asked a guest, ‘didn't you just tell him to snap to it?’ 1981 M. Spark Loitering with Intent x. 158 We mustn't get morbid. Let's snap out of it. |
16. trans. a. To break (something) suddenly and cleanly; to break in two; to cause (a rope, etc.) to part or give way.
| 1679 Trial Lord Cornwallis 12 My Lord..holding the white Staff..in both hands.., snapt it in two. 1680 Morden Geog. Rect. (1685) 52 There is the Herb Ossifraga..which snaps the bones of Cattel that tread upon it. 1725 Pope Odyss. x. 668 Full endlong from the roof the sleeper fell, And snapped the spinal joint and waked in hell. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 638 They found no difficulty in snapping short the single sticks. 1825 J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 33 The shock proceeding from inertia snaps the teeth of the wheels. 1855 Tennyson Maud ii. ii. iv, The shock Of cataract seas that snap The three decker's oaken spine. 1871 Macduff Mem. of Patmos xxv. 347 Its moorings are snapped as tow. |
| slang. 1785 Grose Dict. Vulgar T., To snap the glaze, to break shop windows, or shew glasses. |
b. fig. or in fig. context. Also spec. in sport, to break a tie or a pattern of performance (U.S.).
| 1771 Franklin Autobiog. Wks. 1840 I. 71 At length a trifle snapped our connexion. 1798 Coleridge Anc. Mar. vi. x, And now this spell was snapt. 1819 Shelley Cenci v. i. 82 There arose a Power Which grasped and snapped the threads of my device. 1863 Geo. Eliot Romola ii. v, She had been strong enough to snap asunder the bonds she had accepted in blind faith. 1951 Amer. Speech XXVI. 230 Michigan snaps Gopher streak. 1967 Boston Herald 8 May 16/6 His run-scoring single in the fifth inning climaxed a two-run rally that snapped a 3–3 tie. 1973 Internat. Herald Tribune 15 June 15/6 California held on to score a 7–5 home victory over Boston, snapping a four-game losing streak. 1976 Washington Post 19 Apr. d3/1 Danny Lawson's goal at 14:53 of the third period snapped a 4–4 tie. |
c. To break off with a snap.
| 1808 [see snapwood s.v. snap-]. 1820 Shelley Sensit. Pl. iii. 109 A northern whirlwind..Shook the boughs..And snapped them off. 1833 T. Hook Parson's Dau. i. vii, A five pound fish..had snapped off the top-joint of his..rod. 1834 Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) III. 101 If it be forcibly snapped off, it will shoot out the wider. |
d. To get (a person) out of a certain frame of mind. Cf. sense 15 d above.
| 1957 A. Grimble Return to Islands iv. 78 Once they had struck their noble attitude officially..nothing but the crack of doom would ever snap them out of it. 1964 M. McLuhan Understanding Media i. v. 55 The parallel between two media holds us on the frontiers between forms that snap us out of the Narcissus-narcosis. 1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 13 Jan. 28/5 Brisk way to snap yourself out of the post holiday lethargy is to get out your little or not so little lists and decide to do some entertaining. |
V. 17. a. Adverbially: With, or as with, a snap; quickly, smartly. Freq. in phr. to go snap.
| 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. (1882) 50 Then snap go the fingers, ful brauely, god wot. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. iv. v. 3 What wouldst thou haue?..speake, breathe, discusse: breefe, short, quicke, snap. c 1746 J. Collier (Tim Bobbin) View Lanc. Dial. (1775) 28 On coom snap, on axt meh whot he wantut? 1844 N. Paterson Manse Garden 64 Snap goes the branch, making a very unseemly fracture. 1890 L. D'Oyle Notches 175 Snap went the noose. |
b. In phr. to cry snap.
In quot. 1782 in allusion to the crying of ‘Snap!’ in the game Snip-snap-snorum.
| 1694 Johnson Notes Past. Lett. i. 13 This is an Argument which cries snap like a Mousetrap, but will catch nothing. 1782 F. Burney Cecilia ix. iii, I suppose he'll shilly-shally till somebody else will cry snap, and take her. |
▪ IV. snap, int.
(snæp)
The call in the card-game snap (snap n. 5 d); hence as an exclamation used when two similar objects turn up or two similar events take place.
| 1890 Champlin & Bostwick Young Folks' Cycl. Games & Sports 659/2 When a player turns a card having the same design as one on the top of another player's exposed pile, both must say ‘Snap’. 1958 N. F. Simpson Hole 7 Cerebro. He seems to be biding his time at the moment. Soma. Snap! 1962 J. Braine Life at Top v. 88 He passed me his cigarette-case. The cigarettes..bore his initials. I reached for my cigarette-lighter then took out instead one of the books of matches I'd taken away from the Savoy. He looked at the matches and grinned. ‘Snap,’ he said. 1971 M. Russell Deadline viii. 95 ‘I've read your stuff.’ ‘Snap.’ 1980 J. Wainwright Venus Fly-Trap 39 Daphne, too, was wearing dark glasses... Harry..murmured, ‘Snap.’ |