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Glite Dictionary
to zap (an email)

to zap (an email)

7.5
Send an email quickly, usually in an informal way when it is urgent
  • phrasal verb
  • /zæp/
  • Texting
translation icon : enviar rápidamente
  • I’ll zap that email to the team so everyone stays updated.

Examples

  • She always zaps that email to me the moment she gets important news.

  • Could you zap that email over before the end of the meeting?

  • Could you zap that email over before the end of the meeting?

  • I’ll zap that email to the team so everyone stays updated.

  • She always zaps that email to me the moment she gets important news.

Synonyms

to shoot off
vsto zap (an email)
  • Informal
3 4.1

To send a message quickly without much thought

is similar but emphasizes even faster speed and informal urgency
to shoot a line
vsto zap (an email)
  • Informal
1 8.3

To send a short message to someone by phone or text

is about very rapid sending and urgent intent rather than just brevity
to e-mail
vsto zap (an email)
  • Texting
1.3

To send a message to someone using the internet

is faster and more informal, sent rapidly with an urgent tone

Antonyms

to delay
562 1.4

To make something happen later than planned

How Fast

to shoot off
  • Informal
3 4.1
to zap (an email)
  • Texting
7.5
to send
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

zap infinitive
zapped past
zapped past participle
zapping present participle
zaps third person singular

Morphology

zap + (an + email)

The verb 'zap' conveys a quick, energetic action and paired with the literal noun 'email' most learners who know both words can infer 'send an email quickly', so the meaning is partly compositional. However, 'zap' is informal and polysemous (electric shock, destroy, act quickly) and its electronic/send sense is a metaphorical extension, making the exact meaning not fully predictable for all B1 learners.

Etymology

Zap (an email) may come from the idea of an electric 'zap', a quick shock or flash that moves instantly. So, thinking of a quick electric hit or pressing a button to send a message helps explain why to zap an email means 'to send it quickly'.