Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to snap back

to snap back

5 3.8
Get better quickly after a setback or illness
  • phrasal verb
  • /snæp bæk/
  • Informal
translation icon : recuperarse
  • And I'm sure America will immediately snap back to normal.
  • snap back quickly
  • snap back to life

We are in a world where there's so much pressure to be perfect, to be ready to snap back.

Examples

  • And many of the busy people I know—myself included—periodically have a day where they snap back to reality and really feel it for the first time in a while.

    Blog text (34)

  • After a downright terrible month, the stock market snapped back to life this morning.

    Blog text (10)

  • You'll snap back if you let yourself.

    Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

  • After a tough week, she managed to snap back and feel positive again.

  • Despite the challenges, he was able to snap back and continue his work with renewed energy.

  • After losing the match, the team was determined to snap back and win the next game.

Synonyms

to bounce back
vsto snap back
60 3.5

Get better quickly after an illness, problem, or setback

is the same meaning but uses different wording
to rebound
vsto snap back
42 4.3

To get back to normal after a problem

recovers quickly without implying a return to earlier condition
to recuperate
vsto snap back
30 6.3

To get better after being ill, injured, or very tired

recovers quickly from setbacks rather than only healing physically
to get back on one's feet
vsto snap back
  • Informal
27 3.7

To recover after illness, money problems, or other setbacks

recovers quickly rather than slowly regaining stability

Antonyms

to decline
344 3.7

To become less over time, for example in value or health

to deteriorate
146 5.9

To get worse in quality, condition, or value

How Fast

to snap back
  • Informal
5 3.8
to mend
37 1.5
to recover
748 2.5

Surface Forms

snap back infinitive
snapped back past
snapped back past participle
snapping back present participle
snaps back third person singular

Morphology

snap + back

The components 'snap' (a sudden, sharp movement) and 'back' (to a previous state) together convey a rapid return, so a learner could plausibly infer a quick return to a prior condition. However, the specific extension to 'recover from illness or setback' is metaphorical and not fully predictable from the parts alone, so prior exposure may still be needed.

Etymology

Snap back may come from the image of a stretched thing, like a rubber band, that suddenly snaps and moves back to its old shape. So, the phrase means 'to recover quickly' after a problem or illness.