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3 N‑COUNT A snarl is a disorganized mass of things. □ [+ of ] She was tangled in a snarl of logs and branches.

sna rl-up (snarl-ups ) N‑COUNT A snarl-up is a disorganized situation such as a traffic jam, in which things are unable to move or work normally. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]

snatch /snæ tʃ/ (snatches , snatching , snatched )

1 VERB If you snatch something or snatch at something, you take it or pull it away quickly. □ [V n prep] Mick snatched the cards from Archie's hand. □ [V n with adv] He snatched up the phone. □ [V + at ] The thin wind snatched at her skirt.

2 VERB [usu passive] If something is snatched from you, it is stolen, usually using force. If a person is snatched , they are taken away by force. □ [be V -ed] If your bag is snatched, let it go.

3 VERB If you snatch an opportunity, you take it quickly. If you snatch something to eat or a rest, you have it quickly in between doing other things. □ [V n] I snatched a glance at the mirror. □ [V n] You can even snatch a few hours off.

4 VERB If you snatch victory in a competition, you defeat your opponent by a small amount or just before the end of the contest. □ [V n] The American came from behind to snatch victory by a mere eight seconds.

5 N‑COUNT A snatch of a conversation or a song is a very small piece of it. □ [+ of ] I heard snatches of the conversation.

snaz|zy /snæ zi/ (snazzier , snazziest ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is snazzy is stylish and attractive, often in a rather bright or noticeable way. [INFORMAL ] □  …a snazzy new Porsche.

sneak /sniː k/ (sneaks , sneaking , sneaked ) The form snuck is also used in American English for the past tense and past participle. 1 VERB If you sneak somewhere, you go there very quietly on foot, trying to avoid being seen or heard. □ [V adv/prep] Sometimes he would sneak out of his house late at night to be with me.

2 VERB If you sneak something somewhere, you take it there secretly. □ [V n prep/adv] He smuggled papers out each day, photocopied them, and snuck them back. □ [V n n] He reckons he can sneak you some free nachos.

3 VERB If you sneak a look at someone or something, you secretly have a quick look at them. □ [V n prep] You sneak a look at your watch to see how long you've got to wait.

4 → see also sneaking

▸  sneak up on

1 PHRASAL VERB If someone sneaks up on you, they try and approach you without being seen or heard, perhaps to surprise you or do you harm. □ [V P P n] I managed to sneak up on him when you knocked on the door.

2 PHRASAL VERB If something sneaks up on you, it happens or occurs when you are not expecting it. □ [V P P n] Sometimes our expectations sneak up on us unawares.

sneak|er /sniː kə ^r / (sneakers ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Sneakers are casual shoes with rubber soles. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, use trainers

sneak|ing /sniː k I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] A sneaking feeling is a slight or vague feeling, especially one that you are unwilling to accept. □  I have a sneaking suspicion that they are going to succeed.

snea k pre |view (sneak previews ) N‑COUNT A sneak preview of something is an unofficial opportunity to have a look at it before it is officially published or shown to the public.

sneaky /sniː ki/ (sneakier , sneakiest ) ADJ If you describe someone as sneaky , you disapprove of them because they do things secretly rather than openly. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □  It is a sneaky and underhand way of doing business.