cradle-snatching
The act of being romantically involved with a much younger person. Primarily heard in UK. He's known for his cradle-snatching—he's currently dating a woman 25 years younger than him. No, I stopped talking to him when I found out he was 15 years younger than me! I'm not interested in cradle-snatching! Mom, are you cradle-snatching? That guy is way too young for you!
snatch
1. verb, informal To kidnap (someone). Police believe the child was snatched between 9 and 11 AM on the morning of the 23rd.
2. noun, informal A kidnapping. OK, Tom and Louise will have the van ready at noon. The target will be leaving his apartment at 1 PM, and that's when we'll make the snatch.
3. noun, informal A theft. Police are warning residents of an increase in the number of purse snatches in the area recently.
4. noun, vulgar slang A woman's genitals.
snatch (one) out of the jaws of death
To rescue one from near or certain death at the very last possible moment. Thankfully, the EMTs arrived to the crash in time to snatch the woman and her child out of the jaws of death. The drowning fishermen were snatched out of the jaws of death by a passing cruise ship.
snatch (someone or something) from (someone or something else)
1. To seize or grab hold of someone or something very hastily or suddenly and take them or it away from someone or something else. He reached out and snatched the paper from my hands. Police rushed in and snatched the hostage from the criminal before tackling him to the ground.
2. To cause someone or something to lose control or possession of someone or something, especially very suddenly or unexpectedly. The child protection agency came and snatched our kids away from us without warning. The Labour Party is looking to snatch control of parliament from the Tories.
snatch (someone or something) out of (something)
To seize or grab hold of someone or something very hastily or suddenly and take them or it out of and away from something. He reached out and snatched the paper out of my hands. I caught her snatching a cookie out of the cookie jar. The kidnappers broke into the house and snatched the millionaire's daughter out of her bed.
snatch at
1. To grab or grasp at someone or something. The father snatched at his child, but she managed to slip away from him and run back into the playground. I turned around just as I noticed the pickpocket snatching at my wallet.
2. To attempt to obtain, achieve, or make use of something. Be sure to snatch at this opportunity—you might never get another one like it! He's been snatching at reasons to fire Tom for weeks now.
snatch defeat from the jaws of victory
To fail, lose, or be defeated despite the appearance that one would be victorious, especially due to a mistake, error, or poor judgment. (An ironic reversal of the more common "snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.") We were ahead by nearly 20 points with less than half the quarter remaining—how on earth did we manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory like that? The candidate has led in the polls right up to election day, but with that unfortunate remark last night, he may well have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
snatch up
To purchase or acquire something quickly before anyone else has the chance. During the Black Friday sales, customers rush through stores snatching merchandise up at incredibly low prices. The corporation has been snatching up smaller startup companies to broaden its range of products and services.
snatch victory from the jaws of defeat
To win, succeed, or be victorious at the last moment, despite the apparent likelihood of failure or defeat. They were down by nearly 20 points with less than half of the last quarter remaining, but through sheer skill and perseverance they managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The candidate has been behind in the polls right up to election day, but with that unfortunate remark by his opponent last night, he may end up snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
snatch at someone or something
to grasp at someone or something. The mugger snatched at Jane just as she sprayed Mace on him. He snatched at the Mace, but it was too late.
snatch something up
1. Lit. to grasp something and lift it up. Tom snatched the last cookie up and popped it into his mouth. He snatched up the last piece of cake.
2. Fig. to collect or acquire as many of something as possible. The shoppers snatched the sale merchandise up very quickly. The shoppers snatched up the sale merchandise very quickly.
snatch victory from the jaws of defeat
Cliché to win at the last moment. At the last moment, the team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a last-second full-court basket.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.