# snap off

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/snap-off
Updated: 2026-10-23

## Definition

to break a piece away from something quickly and suddenly, often with a loud sound.

For teachers: to break a part from a whole using sudden force, typically resulting in a clean or brittle fracture. Transitive when an object is removed, or intransitive when the part itself breaks away.

## Examples

- You can snap off a piece of chocolate to share.
- The wind was so strong that it caused several dry branches to snap off the old oak tree.
- The brittle plastic handle snapped off under the pressure, rendering the entire mechanism useless until a replacement could be sourced.

## Usage notes

- often implies the material is hard or brittle, like wood, plastic, or dry food.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'break off', which is more general; 'snap' specifically emphasizes the speed and the sharp sound of the break.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.