The expression “coffee break” was first attested in 1952 in glossy magazine advertisements by the Pan-American Coffee Bureau.
SNATCH
catch, grab, snatch, snap
(noun) the act of catching an object with the hands; “Mays made the catch with his back to the plate”; “he made a grab for the ball before it landed”; “Martin’s snatch at the bridle failed and the horse raced away”; “the infielder’s snap and throw was a single motion”
snatch
(noun) a weightlift in which the barbell is lifted overhead in one rapid motion
kidnapping, snatch
(noun) (law) the unlawful act of capturing and carrying away a person against their will and holding them in false imprisonment
cunt, puss, pussy, slit, snatch, twat
(noun) obscene terms for female genitals
snatch, bit
(noun) a small fragment; “overheard snatches of their conversation”
snatch
(verb) to make grasping motions; “the cat snatched at the butterflies”
snatch, snatch up, snap
(verb) to grasp hastily or eagerly; “Before I could stop him the dog snatched the ham bone”
kidnap, nobble, abduct, snatch
(verb) take away to an undisclosed location against their will and usually in order to extract a ransom; “The industrialist’s son was kidnapped”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
snatch (third-person singular simple present snatches, present participle snatching, simple past and past participle snatched)
(transitive) To grasp and remove quickly.
(intransitive) To attempt to seize something suddenly.
(transitive) To take or seize hastily, abruptly, or without permission or ceremony.
(transitive, informal) To steal.
(transitive, informal, figurative, by extension) To take (a victory) at the last moment.
(transitive, informal) To do something quickly in the limited time available.
Synonyms
• grab
• See also steal
Noun
snatch (plural snatches)
A quick grab or catch.
(weightlifting) A competitive weightlifting event in which a barbell is lifted from the platform to locked arms overhead in a smooth continuous movement.
A piece of some sound, usually music or conversation.
(vulgar slang) The vulva. [from 18th c.]
Synonyms: cunt, twat
(dated) A brief period of exertion.
(dated) A catching of the voice.
(dated) A hasty snack; a bite to eat.
(dated) A quibble.
Anagrams
• chanst, chants, stanch
Source: Wiktionary
Snatch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snatched; p. pr. & vb. n. Snatching.] Etym: [OE. snachen, snechen; akin to D. snakken to gasp, to long (for), to desire. Cf. Snack, n., Sneck.]
1. To take or seize hastily, abruptly, or without permission or ceremony; as, to snatch a loaf or a kiss. When half our knowledge we must snatch, not take. Pope.
2. To seize and transport away; to rap. "Snatch me to heaven." Thomson.
Syn.
– To twitch; pluck; grab; catch; grasp; gripe.
Snatch, v. i.
Definition: To attempt to seize something suddenly; to catch; -- often with at; as, to snatch at a rope.
Snatch, n.
1. A hasty catching or seizing; a grab; a catching at, or attempt to seize, suddenly.
2. A short period of vigorous action; as, a snatch at weeding after a shower. Tusser. They move by fits and snatches. Bp. Wilkins.
3. A small piece, fragment, or quantity; a broken part; a scrap. We have often little snatches of sunshine. Spectator. Leave me your snatches, and yield me a direct answer. Shak.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
29 May 2025
CRITICAL
(adjective) characterized by careful evaluation and judgment; “a critical reading”; “a critical dissertation”; “a critical analysis of Melville’s writings”
Coffee Trivia
