nab
v. B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈnæb// UK //nˈæb// nab
v. to catch someone doing something wrong or to grab something quickly. You might use this when the police catch a thief or when you take the last cookie.
v. To catch or arrest someone, particularly in the act of committing a crime; alternatively, to seize or snatch something suddenly.
The police managed to nab the thief near the park.
I managed to nab the last seat on the train just before the doors closed.
While the investigators hoped to nab the ringleader during the hand-off, they ultimately had to settle for a low-level courier who carried very little incriminating evidence.
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.