grab time

USAGE SUMMARY

"grab time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to take advantage of or make the most of a limited amount of time. Example: With so many tasks to complete before the deadline, I needed to grab time wherever I could, even if it meant working through my lunch break.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

They tend to be older, holding down jobs, bringing up families and fitting in their studies whenever they can grab time in front of a screen.

The Economist

The busy schedules at Vida Verde have made it difficult for us to grab time with the cleaners and coordinators to work on the Google calendaring system, but the team at VV has been working hard to set that up.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A week later, we grab time on the phone between Williams's other projects: writing an album in Sweden for actor and singer Peter Jöback, alongside singer-songwriter Tobias Fröberg, and planning a series of singer-songwriter residencies in Stroud.

The Guardian - Music

Furthermore, she says, "Granny's got a room" in Frankfurt; her grown twin sons live in Germany, and Ms. Rosenberg plans to grab time with her grandchildren whenever she can.

The New York Times - Arts

The Levy Redzepi family live in a quiet Hans Christian Andersen-style house on a square near Noma (a three-minute bike ride for René to grab time with the girls before bed).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The same mayor and the same police chief were very much in charge this time as well, ticking off lengthy lists of steps, with dull and self-serving political statements only protruding when other politicians managed to grab time before news cameras.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The huge container ships behind the sailing route, as if the racers were oil crews grabbing time off from cleaning an engine.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

And by that I mean I grabbed time, made time, disciplined myself to work when sometimes I wanted to read a book or watch TV.

Huffington Post

If you don't grab that time and hold it close, you'll lose meaning and possibility".

The New York Times

Like many women writers, when her children were young she used to "grab" writing time when she could.

The Guardian

In Grand Island, the workers would grab prayer time whenever they could, during scheduled rest periods or on restroom breaks.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grab time" to emphasize the opportunistic nature of utilizing short or infrequent periods of free time. It's particularly effective when highlighting actions taken amidst busy schedules or demanding circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "grab time" when the situation allows for scheduled or planned time allocation. This phrase emphasizes spontaneity and capitalizing on unexpected moments, not routine scheduling.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grab time" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating the action of taking advantage of or making the most of available time. Ludwig provides examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grab time" is a grammatically sound and usable verb phrase that signifies the opportunistic use of available time. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and provides real-world examples. While relatively infrequent, it is found across diverse sources, including news, academia, and scientific publications. More formal alternatives exist for professional contexts. To effectively use this phrase, remember that it's most suitable for situations where time is limited and used opportunistically.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

snatch time

Similar to "grab time", it implies quickly taking advantage of a small window of opportunity.

seize the moment

This suggests taking full advantage of an opportunity as soon as it arises, emphasizing immediacy.

find time

Implies making an effort to schedule or create time for something.

make time

Similar to "find time", but suggests a more active role in creating the time.

capitalize on time

Focuses on leveraging time effectively for maximum benefit.

take advantage of the time

Highlights using the available time for a specific purpose or gain.

steal a moment

Suggests taking a brief period of time, often surreptitiously or from other activities.

carve out time

Implies making time for something by removing it from other activities.

squeeze in time

Suggests fitting something into a tight schedule.

avail oneself of time

A more formal way of saying to take advantage of the time.

FAQs

How can I use "grab time" in a sentence?

You can use "grab time" to describe quickly taking advantage of an opportunity to do something when time is limited. For example, "I had to grab time between meetings to respond to emails".

What can I say instead of "grab time"?

You can use alternatives like "snatch time", "seize the moment", or "make time" depending on the context.

Is "grab time" suitable for formal writing?

While "grab time" is widely understood, it leans towards a more informal register. For formal writing, consider alternatives like "take advantage of available time" or "utilize time efficiently".

What's the difference between "grab time" and "find time"?

"Grab time" implies a spontaneous action to use available moments, whereas "find time" suggests a more deliberate effort to schedule or create time for something.