To grab meaning in English
Learn how to use To grab correctly with Gymglish.
Test and improve your English. Start your free trial today.
TEST YOUR ENGLISH
Free trial and no commitment to buy
4,7 on App Store, Play Store and Trustpilot
More than 8 million learners worldwide
Definition
to grab: to take (quickly), to snatch, to catch, to seize, to capture
Nice grab! Good catch!
to grab a bite to eat a light meal
to grab a drink to go for a drink (usually an alcoholic drink)
Examples
- "Sydney : I'll grab the barbie and my didgeridoo."
- "The Corsican : Why do you get to grab the money?"
- "I was just going to grab a hot dog."
- "Bob : Maybe I should grab another slice of cake."
- "Bob the Brit : You heard the man, Corsican, I'll grab the money and then we'll get out of here."
- "Howsabout I grab the money?"
- "And Joan, if you don't mind, and if it's not too much trouble, could you please grab the beer from the fridge?"
- "Brian : Horatio grabbed me and started running, but then something terrible happened to him. He ran into a tree!"
- "Horatio grabbed me and started running, but then... something terrible happened to him.."
- "Grab some popcorn will you?"
- "Congratulations, you've made the decision to grab the brass ring"
Exercise 1
Bob tells Luna that maybe he should "grab another slice of cake", or at least "hide one away".
This means that Bob may another piece of cake, or at least it.
This means that Bob may another piece of cake, or at least it.
Bob tells Luna that maybe he should "grab another slice of cake", or at least "hide one away".
This means that Bob may take 1 another piece of cake, or at least conceal 2 it.
This means that Bob may take 1 another piece of cake, or at least conceal 2 it.
1 take: This is the best choice here. Bob tells Luna that he should "grab" another slice of cake. The verb "to grab" has several meanings. In this context, Bob is thinking about physically "taking" another slice of cake.
1 bake: This is incorrect. To "bake (another cake)" has a different meaning than to "grab another" piece of cake. "Baking" is a style of cooking using an oven.
1 look for: This is incorrect. To "look for (another piece of cake)" has a different meaning than to "grab another" piece of cake. "To look for (an object)" is to search for it or try to find it.
1 bite: This is incorrect. To "bite" another piece cake has a different meaning than to "grab another" piece of cake. To "bite (into a piece of cake)" is to put a piece of cake in the mouth and to begin to eat it.
2 conceal: This is the best choice. Bob tells Luna that he is thinking about "hiding" the cake so that no one else eats it. "To conceal" is very close in meaning to the verb "to hide", and the idiom "to hide away". For example, a police officer might ask a suspected criminal if he or she is carrying a "concealed weapon".
2 disguise: Bob is not considering "disguising" the cake, but "hiding" it. To disguise means to change appearance, for example: I disguised myself as a stormtrooper, and managed to escape past the Imperial guard.
2 destroy: Bob is not considering "destroying" the cake, but "hiding" it. To destroy (something) is to physically ruin or break it.
2 divide: Bob is not considering "dividing" the cake, but "hiding" it.
Exercise 2
"Luna, how does this idea grab you?"
From the list below, choose those sentences which use the term "grab" correctly.
There may be more than one correct answer!
From the list below, choose those sentences which use the term "grab" correctly.
There may be more than one correct answer!
"Luna, how does this idea grab you?"
From the list below, choose those sentences which use the term "grab" correctly.
There may be more than one correct answer!
From the list below, choose those sentences which use the term "grab" correctly.
There may be more than one correct answer!
This sentence uses "to grab" correctly, and is a very common use of the term. To "grab (at)" in this context is to seize or snatch suddenly, quickly, or insistently. Example: "The thief just grabbed my handbag off my shoulder!".
This is an incorrect use of the term "grab". This sentence could read "Could you give/pass that hat to me please?", and would then make sense.
This is a correct way to use the term "to grab". To "grab some lunch" or "grab a drink" is to eat or drink something quickly, often on the move. Example: "Let's grab a coffee before we go to work".
This is an idiomatic use of the term "grab". We say that something is "up for grabs" when it is available, or can be taken. Example: "The position of CEO of Microtosh is up for grabs".
Exercise 3
In his email, Brian uses the expression up for grabs.
From the list below, select the sentences which use grab correctly!
From the list below, select the sentences which use grab correctly!
In his email, Brian uses the expression up for grabs.
From the list below, select the sentences which use grab correctly!
From the list below, select the sentences which use grab correctly!
'Grab' is used correctly here. This is a literal use of the verb 'to grab', which means 'to seize' or 'to take with force'. Another example: 'Grab a chair and sit down!'.
This is correct. If something is 'up for grabs', then it is 'available' or 'can be obtained'. This is the expression used by Brian in his email to tell his colleagues that one of them can have a ticket to the ballet if they want it.
We cannot use the verb 'to grab' to introduce an activity already planned for the future. Instead, it would be more natural to say 'I have my first horse riding lesson this week'.
This sentence uses 'to grab' correctly. In this informal context, 'to grab (a drink, a sandwich)' means 'to get' or 'to go for (a drink, a sandwich)'. Here's another example: 'Shall we grab another beer before we go home? I'm not drunk enough'.
We can invite someone to 'grab' an item of food or drink, for example 'Let's grab a coffee before we get on the train'. However, we would not invite someone to 'grab' something which cannot be touched, like a conversation. 'To have' would be more natural than 'to grab' here.
Still unsure of the best way to use 'To grab'? Improve your English thanks to our online English lessons. We offer a free test as well as a free level assessment!
What our users say:
Test your English with Gymglish today and get a free level assessment
Absolutely free - no strings attached.
