(no subject)

[louiselux]

Here's another Americanism that jars me when I see it in potter fics: 'snagged'. Used to mean 'took', as in 'he snagged some plates'.

Comments

[nym2.livejournal.com]

I use that one in everyday conversation. Usually only in relation to fabric, though. Clothes, curtains. Maybe it's a local thing? I never thought about it before!

[lexin.livejournal.com]

I've always assumed it means 'picked up' as in 'He snagged the shampoo from off the floor' which I came across in a story.

The usage of snagged that Nym is talking about is pulling a thread out of (for example) a piece of cloth or getting your nail caught in your tights and making a hole. That's the British usage of snagged.

[askance.livejournal.com]

How about snagged in the sense of Sensitive New Age Guy?

'He snagged some plates and made sure everybody got fed'

Did Americans use SNAG in that sense? What about you Poms ?

[ellen-fremedon.livejournal.com]

I use 'snag' to mean 'pick up,' and I don't use it only of cloth things. To me, it connotes grabbing something in passing, or as an afterthought.