snap to

snap to (attention)

1. To suddenly or abruptly begin paying attention. I was lost in a daydream, but I snapped to when the teacher called my name. The kids snapped to attention when I slammed the ladle down on the kitchen table.

2. To quickly assume military attention. You become trained to snap to attention when a superior officer enters the room.

See also: snap, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

snap to (attention)

Fig. to move quickly to military attention. The troops snapped to attention when they saw the general appear. snap to when I tell you!

See also: snap, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

snap to

Move swiftly and smartly to an action, as in The troops snapped to attention. This phrase is sometimes expanded to snap to it, as in You'd better snap to it if we're going to finish today. [Early 1900s]

See also: snap, to

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

snap to

v.

To pay attention or begin complying suddenly: The troops snapped to attention when the general appeared.

See also: snap, to

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

snap to

verb

See snap to attention

See also: snap, to

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.