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snip-snap

snip-snap

1 9.1
Short lively talk where people answer each other quickly
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : intercambio rápido
  • Their snip-snap made the whole dinner party feel more lively and enjoyable.

Examples

  • Their conversation was a lively snip-snap.

  • The snip-snap between the hosts kept the audience entertained throughout the show.

  • She enjoyed the snip-snap of lunchtime conversations with her colleagues.

  • The two friends engaged in a quick snip-snap about their weekend plans.

  • Their quick snip-snap about the movie kept everyone entertained.

  • The two friends enjoyed a lively snip-snap during lunch, sharing jokes and stories.

  • After a few minutes of snip-snap, the meeting became much more enjoyable.

Synonyms

chit-chat
vssnip-snap
  • Informal
9 2.8

Short friendly talk about unimportant things

is livelier and focuses on spirited remarks rather than trivial talk
quick conversation
vssnip-snap
1 2.3

A short informal talk to share or clear up something

is more lively and energetic rather than only brief
snip-snap banter
vssnip-snap
  • UK
9.0

A quick, funny talk where people tease each other playfully

is lively but not necessarily teasing or pointed

Antonyms

660 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

124 4.8

A long speech by one person often in a play or film

How Lively

repartee
9 8.3
snip-snap
  • UK
1 9.1
to banter
  • Informal
9 4.6
chat
  • Informal
312 1.0
small talk
  • Informal
65 2.1

Surface Forms

snip-snap singular
snip-snaps plural

Morphology

snip-snap = snip + snap (transparent) = snip + snap

The compound combines two short, sharp actions/sounds and figuratively describes a quick, lively back-and-forth of remarks that a learner knowing 'snip' and 'snap' can infer.

Etymology

Snip-snap comes from the quick sounds snip and snap, where snip is like 'a small cut' and snap is like 'a sharp sound', so the word gives the image of a short, lively back-and-forth talk. That's why snip-snap means a quick and lively exchange of remarks.