snatch a portion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "snatch a portion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to quickly taking or grabbing a part of something, often in a casual or informal context. Example: "During the buffet, I managed to snatch a portion of the delicious dessert before it ran out."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

We can assume that Eve snatches only a portion of messages so as to keep QBER in CM at a low level (and have I AE≤1) which would be acceptable to Alice and Bob.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Bishops sail to snatch a knight.

The Economist

The colloquial "snatch a bite" is a neat touch.

The New York Times - Arts

I thought he might have wanted to snatch a purse.

The New Yorker

Scotland had one chance to snatch a desperately-needed win.

BBC

Marlon Harewood had chances to snatch an equaliser for Barnsley.

BBC

Together, the pair managed to snatch up a considerable portion of the market back when it all took to make a popular phone was to jam multimedia functionality into it.

TechCrunch

The bird snatched a succulent red berry.

The New York Times

He snatched a bowl from the table.

The New Yorker

He snatched a telescope and peered through it.

The Guardian - Books

Moments later the Easter Road side snatched a second.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "snatch a portion" when you want to convey a sense of quick or opportunistic acquisition of something, especially when there's competition or limited availability.

Common error

Avoid using "snatch a portion" in formal or academic writing where a more precise or neutral term like "obtain a share" or "acquire a segment" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "snatch a portion" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action of quickly taking or grabbing a part of something. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "snatch a portion" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes quickly taking or grabbing a part of something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples from various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. While generally neutral to informal, it's best to avoid using it in highly formal or academic contexts where more precise alternatives like "obtain a share" or "acquire a segment" would be more suitable. Its primary function is to convey a sense of quick or opportunistic acquisition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grab a share

Focuses on obtaining a part or share, emphasizing the act of taking, similar to snatching.

take a piece

Emphasizes the act of taking a fragment or piece, suggesting a less hurried action than "snatch".

seize a part

Suggests a more forceful or opportunistic taking of a portion.

quickly obtain a segment

Highlights the speed of acquiring a segment, being more formal and less colloquial.

secure a fragment

Implies making a portion secure, with less emphasis on the speed of the action.

extract a section

Emphasizes the removal of a section from a whole, often in a more technical context.

appropriate a percentage

A formal way to describe taking a specific percentage of something.

procure a quantity

Focuses on acquiring a certain amount of something, less about the speed of the action.

acquire a fraction

Highlights obtaining a small or fractional part of something.

capture a segment

Emphasizes gaining control or possession of a segment.

FAQs

How can I use "snatch a portion" in a sentence?

You can use "snatch a portion" to describe quickly taking a part of something, like "During the buffet, I managed to "snatch a portion" of the delicious dessert before it ran out."

What can I say instead of "snatch a portion"?

You can use alternatives like "grab a share", "take a piece", or "seize a part" depending on the context.

Is "snatch a portion" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "snatch a portion" is more informal. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "acquire a segment" or "obtain a share" for greater precision.

What's the difference between "snatch a portion" and "take a portion"?

"Snatch a portion" implies a quicker, possibly opportunistic, action, while "take a portion" is more neutral and simply means to take some of something.