snatch at

snatch at

1. To grab or grasp at someone or something. The father snatched at his child, but she managed to slip away from him and run back into the playground. I turned around just as I noticed the pickpocket snatching at my wallet.
2. To attempt to obtain, achieve, or make use of something. Be sure to snatch at this opportunity—you might never get another one like it! He's been snatching at reasons to fire Tom for weeks now.
See also: snatch
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

snatch at someone or something

to grasp at someone or something. The mugger snatched at Jane just as she sprayed Mace on him. He snatched at the Mace, but it was too late.
See also: snatch
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

snatch at

v.
To attempt to grasp or seize something by grabbing at it suddenly: The police officer snatched at the gun in the robber's hand.
See also: snatch
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • snatch (someone or something) out of (something)
  • snatch out of
  • drop (someone or something) on (someone or something)
  • drop on
  • rush up (to someone or something)
  • get (one's) hands on (someone)
  • get your hands on someone
  • get/lay your hands on somebody
  • pluck from
  • good for
References in periodicals archive
However, that was not enough to satisfy the Indian and he lifted 146kg to set a new Games record in his third try in snatch at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Cruikshank, who trains at Bisham Abbey, won a silver and two bronzes in the 1994 Commonwealth Games and also claimed a silver in the 69kg snatch at Kuala Lumpur four years ago.