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grab at/for

phrasal verb

Definition of grab at/for

: to quickly stretch out one's hand and try to touch or hold (something or someone)
  • People were grabbing at her as she walked through the crowd.
  • He grabbed for the ball and missed.
—often used figuratively
  • We grabbed at the chance to go.
  • political parties grabbing for power

Word by Word Definitions

grab play

  1. : to take or seize by or as if by a sudden motion or grasp

  2. : to obtain without consideration of what is right or wrong

  3. : to take hastily

  1. : intended to be taken, seized, or grasped suddenly

  2. : taken at random

  1. : something taken, seized, or grasped suddenly

  2. : a sudden snatch

  3. : an unlawful or unethical seizure

See the full definition of grab

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