1.grab的基本意思是“抓住”“握住”,强调动作的“粗暴”“无理”,甚至公开地、不择手段地抢夺自己想要的东西,引申可指“夺取”“攫取”。
2.grab既可作及物动词,也可作不及物动词。作及物动词时,宾语常为被抓的对象,宾语后接by或in,表示被抓住的部位,有时宾语也可直接指被抓住的部位; 作不及物动词时,后接at, for, onto表示“抓住某物”。
3.grab的过去式和过去分词均为grabbed。

grab at(v.+prep.)
抓 catch sth with hands
▲grab at sth
The baby grabbed at the ball.宝宝想抓住球。
Henry grabbed at a sandwich.亨利抓住一块夹心面包。
He grabbed at the chance to leave.他抓住时机离开。
He grabbed at an opportunity of going abroad.他抓住一个出国的机会。

grab away(v.+adv.)
突然抓住,抢过某物 catch sth suddenly; rob sth from sb
▲grab sth ⇔ away
He grabbed away the toy pistol from the boy.他从男孩手中夺下那支玩具手枪。
The thief grabbed the bag away from the woman, and disappeared round the corner.小偷从那妇女那儿抢去包,就在街角消失了。

grab for(v.+prep.)
试图抓住 try to seize
▲grab for sth
The climber grabbed for the rope.那位登山者试图抓住绳索。
▲grab sb for sth
As soon as he arrived all the newsmen grabbed him for news.他一到,记者们就拉住他打听消息。

grab off¹(v.+adv.)
抢 catch sth from somewhere
▲grab sth ⇔ off
Those who got there first grabbed off the best seats.先到那里的人抢去了最好的座位。

grab off²(v.+prep.)
把…收起来 to collect sth
▲grab sth off sth
When the teacher came in he grabbed the novel off the desk.教师走进来时,他迅速把桌上的小说收起来。

grab up(v.+adv.)
把…抓起 catch sth
▲grab sth ⇔ up
Tom grabbed up a handful of snow and shoved it down his sister's collar.汤姆抓起一把雪便往妹妹的衣领里塞。

用作不及物动词
▲S+～(+A)
Don't grab!别抢!
用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
I grabbed Jim's hand but he shook me loose.我抓住吉姆的手,但他挣脱了。
The boy grabbed the hands of the teacher to show his gratitude for his concern.孩子拉住老师的手,对他的关怀表示感谢。
Joe grabbed him by the collar.乔抓住他的衣领。
He could not escape, as I grabbed him by the collar.我揪住他的衣领,他没法逃脱。
I planned to grab a bus if I could not grab a taxi.我如果找不到出租汽车,就打算赶搭公共汽车。
He hurried home and grabbed a bath.他急急忙忙回家去,赶紧洗了个澡。
After grabbing a bite of food he will have to leave.他匆匆地吃点东西后,就得离开了。
The actor has the technique of grabbing an audience.这个演员具有能抓住观众的技巧。
It is rude to grab a seat.抢占座位是不礼貌的。
Rush at him, grab his pistol!冲过去,把他的手枪夺过来!
The dog grabbed the bone and ran off.那狗抢到骨头就跑了。
I did the work but he grabbed the credit.我做了工作而他夺去了功劳。
They actually grabbed the right to use the port.他们实际上攫取了这个港口的使用权。
The boss grabbed fabulous profits through speculation.老板搞投机攫取了巨额利润。

grab, clutch, grasp, seize, snatch, take
参见take条。

up for grabs
供人竞购的,待价而沽的ready for anyone to take or win
The job is up for grabs, why don't you apply now?那工作谁都可以争取,你怎么不现在就申请呢?

The thief made a grab at my bag but I pushed him away.贼想抢我的手提包,但被我推开了。

［词源］＜中古荷兰语grabben(抓住)