English

Verb

snap it up

1. (chiefly US, idiomatic, dated) To hurry, to proceed quickly.
   • 1928 Feb. 12, Quin R. Ryan, "Inside the Loud Speaker," Chicago Daily Tribune, p. K10:

     "Come now, let's snap it up! Faster! Faster! Think fast! Let's go!"

   • 1935 June 30, "Congress Told to Snap It Up" [headline], Milwaukee Journal, p. 8 (retrieved 29 Aug. 2011):

     President hopes to Push Wealth Taxes Through in a Month.

   • 1952, Harold Robbins, A Stone for Danny Fisher (2007 edition), ISBN 9781416542841, p. 107:

     A man behind the counter looks up and yells at me. "Snap it up, Danny. We got a flock of orders waiting."

   • 1975 Sep. 2, Erma Bombeck, "Only a hostess knows true loneliness," Miami News, p. 1B (retrieved 29 Aug. 2011):

     The guests have been smiling for two and half hours and are so bored they're discussing their dental appointments. . . and everyone is anxiously facing the kitchen. . . . I summon my best friend, Mayva, who says, "You'd better snap it up."

Usage notes

• Often used in the imperative mood.

Synonyms

• get cracking, get moving, get on with it, hurry up, make it snappy

See also

• snap up