| 释义 |
▪ I. snip-snap, n.|ˈsnɪpˌsnæp|
[f. snip n. + snap n., used with imitative effect.
In Bale Thre Lawes (1538) 1474 Hypocrisy addresses Infidelity as ‘brother snyp snap’.]
†1. The action of snipping or clipping with a pair of scissors or the like; an instance of this. Also fig.
1597G. Harvey Trimming T. Nashe Wks. (Grosart) III. 72 If heere I haue been too prodigall in snip snaps, tell me of it. 1638Ford Fancies v. ii, The fashion of gentry, which is never complete till the snip snap of dexterity hath mowed off the excrements of slovenry.
2. Smart remark or reply; sharp repartee.
1727Pope, etc. Art of Sinking 109 It is by virtue of this style that..Marcus Aurelius is excellent at snip-snap. 1781C. Johnston Hist. J. Juniper II. 246, I have amused myself with..playing a game at snip-snap, with Beatrice in Benedick. 1811Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life (1870) I. 149 Letters should assimilate to the higher style of conversation, without the snip-snap of fashionable dialogue. 1872Tennyson in Life (1897) II. iv. 113 note, To print the names of the speakers..over the short snip-snap of their talk.
†3. = snapper n.1 2 b. Obs.—0
1736Ainsworth i, A snip snap, or snappers, crotalum.
▪ II. snip-snap, a.|ˈsnɪpˌsnæp|
[Cf. prec.]
†1. Making a snipping sound; working or acting by snipping or clipping. Obs.
1600J. Lane Tom Tel-troth 120 These snip-snap sheers. 1643Mercurius Brit. No. 28. 211 Barbers and every Snip⁓snap Jack which can tell the King a faire tale in his eare.
2. Of the nature of snip-snap; characterized by snip-snap or smart repartee.
1673R. Leigh Transp. Reh. 139 His snip-snap wit, hit for hit, and dash for dash. 1702Motteux Prol. to Farquhar's Twin-Rivals, With volleys of small shot, or snip⁓snap wit. 1752A. Murphy Gray's Inn Jrnl. No. 5, Run off from the Point, in a snip-snap Stile, with pert Question and Answer. 1830H. Lee Mem. Manager I. iv. 152 A snip-snap mode of expression. 1861S. Brooks Silver Cord viii. (1865) 45 It is not a bit of snip-snap impertinence..that will frighten me. 1884Fortn. Rev. Dec. 785 The snip-snap dialogue about prodigies.
b. Of persons: Given to snip-snap. rare—1.
1785[R. Graves] Eugenius II. xix. 126 He found she..was not that pert, snip-snap formidable Beatrice, which he at first had some reason to think her.
3. Snappish, quarrelsome, irritable. rare—1.
1770C. Jenner Placid Man iv. iii. II. 23 In this kind of snip-snap disposition the family arrived in town.
▪ III. snip-snap, v.|ˈsnɪpˌsnæp|
[Cf. snip-snap n.]
1. intr. To indulge in snip-snap or smart repartee; to speak in a snappy manner.
1593G. Harvey Pierce's Super. Wks. (Grosart) II. 313 If any whosoeuer will needes be offering abuse in fact, or snip⁓snapping in termes. 1826Miss Mitford Village Ser. ii. (1863) 367, ‘I believe..that you think I have nothing better to do than to read novels.’ And so she snip-snaps to the end of the visit. 1845Judd Margaret i. xvii, Pluck snip⁓snaps with his wife, cracks on Hash, shows his white teeth to Margaret.
2. To snip; to clip with a snipping sound. Hence snip-snapping vbl. n.
1906Westm. Gaz. 14 July 2/2 Scissors join in, with their snip-snapping, as a third bodice is cut out.
▪ IV. snip-snap, adv. (and int.) ? Obs.
[Cf. prec.]
With snip and snap; with a snipping, snapping sound.
1588Shakes. L.L.L. v. i. 63 A sweet tutch, a quicke venewe of wit, snip snap, quick & home. 1596Nashe Saffron Walden Ep. Ded., To torment him, and deal as snip snap snappishly with him, as euer he was delt withall. 1602Middleton Blurt, Master-Constable ii. i, My sister shoots him off, snip-snap, at her pleasure. 1672Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.) Rehearsal iii. i. (Arb.) 67 For you shall see 'em come in upon one another snip snap..as fast as can be. 1793L. Williams Children's Friend I. 16, I will..come with my bill-hook, and snip-snap, cut all those briars down to the ground. |