Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Idioms number 294. The idiom today is to make it
snappy. Okay. Let's take a look at the note here. If you tell someone to make it
snappy, you are telling him or her to do it
quickly, very quickly. Perhaps because it is urgent. Or this phrase is often used
as an imperative. Remember as an imperative means when you order someone
to do it. Yeah. Come on. Make it snappy. Don't fool around. Do that right away. So
we say make it snappy. All right. Let's continue. The origin of snap
seems to come from Dutch or German meaning to bite or seize. All right.
Remember even today we still use the word to snap. Like a dog could snap at
someone like trying to take a bite or seize is another thing that we usually do
quickly. We try to take something quickly. All right. So let's continue. Snap as a noun
could also mean a breaking or cracking sound. We also have the phrase to snap
ones fingers. So some think it may have come from that. Like to you know, (snapping finger sounds) snap
your fingers like that. Yeah. In the past we often associate snapping ones fingers
with you know, to get attention and order someone to do something. So therefore
some people think the origin of this phrase may have come from that idea. Like
you know, somebody snapped for like a waiter or somebody's snap somebody to do
something. So maybe the idea of make it snappy might have come from that idea of
snapping your finger or the noise ordering someone to do something. Something
quickly. So well all them combined could have somehow formed in to make it snappy.
Anyway, let's give a couple of examples of how we use it. Run down to the store
and buy some photocopy paper. Don't fool around and look at other things. Make it
snappy. We need to get those reports out right away.
All right. So don't fool around. Come on. Get back here with that paper. We got to send this
out immediately. Make it snappy. Or number two here. The
boss wants you to run to Starbucks and get his favorite coffee. You had better
make it snappy. He hates to wait. Okay. Anyway I hope you got it. I hope it was clear.
Thank you for your time. Bye-bye.