snarl

snarl at (one)

1. Literally, to growl at one in a vicious manner and with teeth bared. I knew not to approach the dog when it started snarling at me. The poor woman was so overcome by delirium that she actually snarled at the doctors and nurses.
2. To speak or respond to one in a particularly nasty or aggressive manner. She positively snarled at me when I suggested that she should take a break to focus on her kids. If you snarl at me like that again, I'm sending you straight to bed.
3. To utter something at one in a particularly nasty or aggressive manner. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "snarl" and "at." He snarled his answer at me, so I knew not to push him any further. I got so sick of the coach snarling orders at us, so I quit the team.
See also: snarl

snarl out

To utter something in a particularly nasty or aggressive manner. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "snarl" and "out." He snarled out his answer at me, so I knew not to push him any further. I got so sick of the coach snarling orders out at us, so I quit the team.
See also: out, snarl

snarl up

1. To become entangled or knotted. I hate the way the cords always snarl up behind the television. The line snarls up if you reel it in too quickly.
2. To cause something become entangled or knotted (in something). In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "snarl" and "up." I was standing too close to a tree when I cast my line and snarled it up in the branches. The child snarled up his mother's hair with the twisty toy.
3. To involve or entrap oneself or someone in something, such as an issue, problem, or scandal. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "snarl" and "up." The best politicians choose their battles wisely—if you spend your time snarling yourself up in petty debates, you'll never get anything done. My brother has snarled me up with a number of lawsuits to keep me from accessing my late-father's estate.
See also: snarl, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

snarl at (someone, something, or an animal)

to growl at someone, something, or an animal angrily and threateningly. The dog snarled at everyone who passed by. Our dog used to sit in front of the washing machine and snarl at it.
See also: snarl

snarl someone or something up

to tangle someone or something; to mess something up. The wind snarled my hair up terribly. The wind snarled up my hair.
See also: snarl, up

snarl something out

to utter something by snarling or growling. Lefty snarled a naughty word out at the police. Walt the pickpocket snarled out a curse as the cop grabbed his coat collar.
See also: out, snarl
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

snarl up

v.
1. To become tangled in or as if in a knot: This new fishing line keeps snarling up.
2. To tangle or knot something: The wind snarled up my hair. I snarled the kite up in a tree.
3. To involve someone or something in or as if in a tangle: Their lawyers snarled us up in litigation for years. Don't get me snarled up in your affairs. An accident snarled up traffic for hours.
See also: snarl, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • snarl at
  • snarl at (one)
  • bare (something) to (someone)
  • bare to
  • circle
  • literally
  • bare (one's) heart
  • bare (one's) soul
  • bare soul
  • bare your soul
References in periodicals archive
"A Blessed Snarl: Book Review" Quill & Quire, 1 Apr.
A conversation on three recent works of fiction
A Gurgaon police spokesperson accused the Huda and expressway operator for not maintaining the road and also for the ensuing traffic snarls on the expressway.
RAIN BRINGS GURGAON TO STANDSTILL
But this week's pictures will prove that there's nothing new about Birmingham's roads being snarled up with traffic jams!
Chaos in the city
The pressure certainly starts getting to the soap stud in this week's Coronation Street as he snarls at the scheming temptress to keep her mouth shut -or he'll sort her out.
Steve's baby tantrum
The RAK traffic and patrols department, alerted of the snag, dispatched technical teams to fix the problem, along with traffic policemen to control the traffic and prevent snarls.
Signal malfunction leads to traffic chaos in Ras Al Khaimah
"Thanks," Mark snarls, gives the guy $3.50 for the copy and we split.
Sometimes I think I'd rather be a movie star than an artist
" A continuous traffic snarl was reported from Ashram and Jasola during the peak hours both in the morning and in the evening.
Potholes add to the misery of commuters
Snarls were the order of the day as Delhiites heading home from office got stuck in waterlogged streets following three hours of heavy rains in the afternoon.
Rains bring Delhi to a halt
This happened almost a week after she was stranded in a similar rain- triggered traffic snarl for two hours while on her way to inaugurate four foot overbridges.
CHAOS! Post- rain traffic woes bring Capital to tears
Another car broke down in Lajpat Nagar around 11 am, triggering a snarl.
A few hrs of shower brings the Capital to its knees
Liam spots the dog & gives it a stroke; But the terrier responds with a snarl; The Oasis rock hardman jumps back in fright as the furious terrier strains at its leash to get at him
Liam Gallagrrrrrrr; STAR SEEN OFF BY A TERRIER
Most clients turn up with a cheque book, but Demetri was armed with a snarl and a handgun.
Suzy in the city: Flash Geezer
IF THE reason you give your boss for arriving late in office is a traffic snarl, he will probably accept the excuse without question on Wednesday.
TRAFFIC JAMS AHEAD
Summary: New Delhi [India], Aug 6 (ANI): Heavy rains lashed several parts of Delhi-NCR region on Tuesday causing waterlogging and traffic snarls on major intersections of the region.
Heavy rain lashes Delhi-NCR, disrupts rush hour traffic
A fire on the 21st floor of the Pacific Coast Tower snarled traffic along the Coastal road in Paranaque City Monday afternoon.
Condo blaze snarls Coastal Road traffic