snappy
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make it snappy
To do it quickly; to hurry up. Often used as an imperative. One medium-rare burger, and make it snappy! I'm starving. Make it snappy, kids! We're going to be late!
be snappy
To be quick or fast. Often used as an imperative. A: "Would you mind if I went over an idea with you?" B: "I've only got a few minutes, so be snappy!" We'll have to be snappy if we want to catch that flight!
See also: snappy
make haste
To move, speak, or act quickly, especially when one was being too slow before. Often said as a command. We'll need to make haste if we're going to catch that train! Make haste, Jonathan, I need that report ASAP!
Make it snappy!
Inf. Hurry up!; Move quickly and smartly. Andy: Make it snappy! I haven't got all day. Bob: Don't rush me. Mary: Do you mind if I stop here and get some film? Bob: Not if you make it snappy! Mary: Don't worry. I'll hurry.
See also: make
make haste
Also, make it snappy. Hurry up, move or act quickly, as in If you don't make haste we'll be late, or Make it snappy, kids. The first expression was first recorded in Miles Coverdale's 1535 translation of the Bible (Psalms 39:13): "Make haste, O Lord, to help me." The variant dates from the early 1900s and uses snappy in the sense of "resembling a sudden jerk." The oxymoron make haste slowly, dating from the mid-1700s, is a translation of the Latin festina lente. It is used either ironically, to slow someone down (as in You'll do better if you make haste slowly), or to comment sarcastically on a lack of progress (as in So far the committee has been making haste slowly).
snappy
see under make haste.
make it snappy
be quick about it. 1994 Pete Hamill A Drinking Life Into bed! he said. Make it snappy! I retreated into the darkness of the second floor from the kitchen.
ˌmake it ˈsnappy
(informal) used to tell somebody to do something quickly or to hurry: If you don’t make it snappy, we’ll miss the train. ♢ Come on, make it snappy! There’s not much time left!Make it snappy!
exclam. Hurry up!; Make it fast! Make it snappy, Fred. The cops are headed up the walk now.
See also: make
snappy
1. mod. quick. You can get there if you’re snappy.
2. mod. sharp-looking. Who’s driving that snappy car over there?
make haste
To move or act swiftly; hurry.