Definition of snatch at

The origin of the phrase "snatch at" dates back to the Old English language, and its earliest recorded use can be traced to around the 12th century. The Old English term "snellan" meant "to seize quickly" or "to snatch." It was a compound word formed from "snā" meaning "quickly," and "llān" meaning "to take." In Middle English, the word "snellen" evolved into "snellenche" and eventually became "snatche" in Early Modern English. The term was particularly common in the dialect spoken in Southeastern England during the 14th and 15th centuries. "Snatch" itself is derived from the Old Norse word "sn Ke," which had a similar meaning. The various Germanic languages that shared this root also developed similar terms for seizing or snatching quickly. In contemporary English, "snatch at" is still used with the same meaning as its Old English roots. Synonyms such as "reach for," "grab," or "snatch" are also commonly used in place of "snatch at" in modern English. The phrase "snatch at" is most often used in a metaphorical sense, as we describe trying to grab hold of something elusive, such as an opportunity, a idea, or an explanation. These more abstract meanings allowed the term to hold a place in the English language for hundreds of years.