What does snig mean?
Snig is an informal British verb meaning to steal or take something quickly, especially by pulling it from someone's pocket or seizing it in the hand. Its short, abrupt sound suits the rapid action it describes: someone might snig a wallet, purse, phone, or camera. The word is chiefly associated with pickpocketing and street crime, and it now sounds somewhat old-fashioned to many speakers. Although it overlaps with verbs such as steal, filch, purloin, and swipe, snig focuses particularly on a quick, opportunistic taking. It should not be confused with snatch, a broader and more standard word for suddenly seizing or pulling something away. In contemporary writing, steal or pick someone's pocket will usually be clearer and less marked than snig.
verbTo steal or take something swiftly, especially by snatching it from someone's pocket or hand.
- To steal or take something swiftly, especially by snatching it from someone's pocket or hand.
"Someone tried to snig my wallet while I was distracted."
"He tried to snig the camera from the display case."
"Pickpockets were active along the promenade, attempting to snig wallets and phones."
Snig is a quick old piece of British slang for a quicker kind of theft.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does snig come from?
Snig is a late 19th-century British slang word for stealing or pickpocketing. Its precise origin is uncertain, and it does not have a securely established connection with a common root in English or another language. The word's semantic development is nevertheless transparent from its use in phrases concerned with taking a wallet or purse from a person's hand or pocket.
How snig is actually used
This is informal British slang and may sound old-fashioned. It is chiefly associated with street crime and pickpocketing rather than deliberate theft of property left unattended.
Easily confused with snig
Snig is chiefly informal British slang for taking something quickly, while snatch is common in standard English and often means to seize something with a sudden movement.