grab at
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To grasp, or attempt to grasp, something or somebody, using one's hand, usually in a rough or rude manner.
Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt
Cố gắng nắm hoặc chạm vào một thứ gì đó hoặc ai đó bằng tay
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “grab at” mean?
To grasp, or attempt to grasp, something or somebody, using one's hand, usually in a rough or rude manner.
Is “grab at” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.