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🐴 A horse bit 🐴 To fit a bit 🤏 To grab quickly
to snaffle

to snaffle

8.5
To take something quickly often before others notice
  • verb
  • /ˈsnæfəl/
  • UK
translation icon : agarrar
  • He quickly snaffled the last cookie before anyone else could grab it.

Examples

  • The kids snaffled some extra snacks from the pantry when they thought no one was looking.

  • He's a reformed character now and but nonetheless still does go for the occasional occasional occasional bit of a picnic snaffling in the park.

  • She managed to snaffle a great deal on her new laptop during the sale.

Synonyms

to grab
vsto snaffle
∞ 1.0

To take hold of something quickly with your hand

often involves similar quick taking but can be sly or slightly dishonest
to sneak
vsto snaffle
699 2.8

To move or take something quietly so others do not notice

is quicker and often more direct, sometimes also slightly dishonest
to snatch up
vsto snaffle
24 4.6

To grab something quickly, often before someone else

is the same quick action but often includes slight sneaky or dishonest motive
to snap up
vsto snaffle
14 3.7

Buy something quickly before other people do

is the general quick taking that can be sneaky, not only purchase
to snag
vsto snaffle
  • Informal
2 6.1

To get something quickly when it is hard to find

is more general quick taking, not always clever or difficult to obtain
to snarf
vsto snaffle
  • Slang
1 9.9

To take something quickly, often without permission

focuses on quick taking but is less strictly theft focused
to snipe
vsto snaffle
  • Informal
1 7.7

To quickly take something before others can act

highlights the same quickness but with added slight dishonesty sometimes

Antonyms

to release
∞ 1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

return
231 1.0

An act of giving something back to its owner

Compounds

snaffle bit
  • Specialized
8.3

A metal piece put in a horse's mouth to help a rider control it

How Sneaky

to filch
4 8.4
to steal
∞ 1.0
to snaffle
  • UK
8.5
to snatch
136 3.0
to grab
∞ 1.0
to take
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

snaffle infinitive
snaffled past
snaffled past participle
snaffling present participle
snaffles third person singular

Etymology

The everyday verb snaffle meaning 'to take quickly' also comes from the old idea of snaff as 'to snatch', much like the common word 'snatch'. So to snaffle something is to grab it fast, often a little sneaky, which explains the modern meaning.