好词典

nab

UK //næb//US //næb//

词源

可能源自16世纪北欧方言(如瑞典语 'nappa' 或丹麦语 'nappe'),原意为“突然抓住”。17世纪进入英语俚语,后成为通用词汇。

verb

❶ 突然抓住或逮捕某人,通常指在对方未察觉或逃跑时快速行动。多用于非正式场合,描述警察抓人或抓住机会。

“The police nabbed the thief as he was trying to escape.”

(小偷试图逃跑时被警察当场抓住。)

“I finally nabbed the last ticket to the concert.”

(我终于抢到了演唱会的最后一张票。)

同义词:catch, seize, grab, arrest, capture

常见短语

nab someone red-handed — 当场抓住某人正在做坏事,强调被抓时证据确凿的场景。

“The store owner nabbed the shoplifter red-handed with stolen goods.”

(店主当场抓住了小偷,人赃俱获。)