(something) snapped

When you say that something "snapped", it means that it broke. But "break" is a very general word. English has several more specific words to describe different ways of breaking:

  • snap
  • shatter
  • tear
  • crumble
  • crack

"Snapping" is specifically a kind of breaking that happens quickly and often makes a noise. Some things that "snap" include:

  • a small stick that you break with your hands
  • a rope that's pulled too tightly

Sometimes when you talk about things "snapping", you talk about how many pieces they snapped into:

It snapped in two.

This phrase appears in these lessons: