Every month, we take a look at a word in the headlines, in English, for your English. See more at The Word of the Month.
Definition
To snap: to break, usually with a cracking sound.
A snap: A break or rupture.
In a snap: Suddenly
Ex: And in a snap, the Oval Office was renamed the Trump Room.
Snap in the news
Cold snaps, waves of freezing weather, are a hot topic in the Northern Hemisphere. Stop laughing, Melbourne. Talk to us in 6 months.
Symptoms include ice, frost, snow and rain. Suggestion: act like a bear and rub your bum on trees hibernate.
Snappy idioms
Snap a pic (take a photo): Post it online. Your fondue party is big news (not fake news).
Snap your fingers (make sound with your fingers): A waiter may bring you something to drink.
Snap at someone (speak harshly): Snap at the weather gods.They’re not listening anyway.
Historical cold snaps
Ice Age: Only lasted 2.6 million years. Dinos didn’t fit in.
Great Frost (1709): Worst British cold snap before Brexit. People kept warm by burning witches.
North American cold snap (1936): People kept warm with whale fat. Still seen today on many Americans.
Winter 2017: Don’t snap yet (go crazy). Warm yourself by the glow of your smartphone, it’s almost Spring!
Take a look through our Word of the Month archives, or improve your English with gymglish.com.