up for grabs: meaning & examples

Open in app

Language: English

Meanings:

  • 1.

    USUKAustraliaCanadainformalneutral
    • Available for anyone to claim or take; unreserved and obtainable.
    • Open to competition or contention; not yet assigned or decided.

    Examples

    Beta

    • There are several jobs up for grabs in the new tech company opening downtown.

      There are several jobs available for anyone to claim in the new tech company opening downtown.

    • With no one applying yet, the scholarship is still up for grabs.

      With no one applying yet, the scholarship is still unreserved and obtainable.

    • The tickets to the concert went up for grabs as soon as they were released online.

      The tickets to the concert became available for anyone to claim as soon as they were released online.

    • Don't wait too long; the opportunity is up for grabs until the end of the day.

      Don't wait too long; the opportunity is available for anyone to claim until the end of the day.

  • 2.

    USUKcolloquial
    • Vulnerable to takeover or appropriation by others.

    Examples

    Beta

    • After the CEO resigned, the company’s leadership position was up for grabs.

      After the CEO resigned, the company’s leadership position was vulnerable to takeover by others.

    • With the championship title up for grabs, every team is fighting hard to win.

      With the championship title vulnerable to appropriation, every team is fighting hard to win.

    • The vacant seat on the council is up for grabs and has attracted several candidates.

      The vacant seat on the council is vulnerable to being taken by others and has attracted several candidates.

  • 3.

    generalinformalcolloquial
    • Romantically or sexually available.

    Examples

    Beta

    • After the breakup, Sarah was clearly up for grabs and ready to mingle again.

      After the breakup, Sarah was romantically available and ready to mingle again.

    • At the party, he was up for grabs, chatting with anyone who approached him.

      At the party, he was sexually or romantically available, chatting with anyone who approached him.

    • Since they just ended their relationship, both of them are up for grabs now.

      Since they just ended their relationship, both of them are open to romantic or sexual availability now.

Examples:

  • EN: I'm sincere. I'm not throwing her father up for grabs.
    ES: No voy a jugar con su padre.
  • EN: Your happiness is just here up for grabs, and you...
    ES: La felicidad te ronda y tú...
  • EN: I'm sincere. I'm not throwing her father up for grabs.
    ES: No voy a jugar con su padre.
  • EN: Your happiness is just here up for grabs, and you...
    ES: La felicidad te ronda y tú...
  • EN: Before I'll fire him, I'll throw the Express up for grabs and go to work for somebody who appreciates real talent on a paper!
    ES: Antes que despedirle, dejaría el "Express" y me iría a trabajar para alguien que apreciara verdaderamente mi talento.
  • EN: She's up for grabs.
    ES: Está lista para que la agarren.
  • EN: - up for grabs.
    ES: vacante.
  • EN: A very long time ago, you were up for grabs.
    ES: Hace mucho tiempo Jackie.
  • EN: The account's up for grabs.
    ES: El contrato está por adjudicar.
  • EN: Three spots to Lyon up for grabs!
    ES: ¡Tres sitios para Lyon! ¡Y aquí lo tienen!
  • EN: With Big Jim gone, it leaves this town up for grabs.
    ES: Sin Big Jim, esta ciudad ha quedado a merced de cualquiera.
  • EN: -I just got an inside tip that the William J. Sommers account is up for grabs.
    ES: Tengo bajo la manga la cuenta de William J.Sommers.
  • EN: Knock me off or buy me off, it's up for grabs.
    ES: Eliminarme o comprarme, ya se verá.
  • EN: We've got $16 million up for grabs and we won't let those clods beat us to it.
    ES: Los 16 millones de dólares están ahí y no permitiremos que nos los arrebaten.
  • EN: That leaves City Island up for grabs.
    ES: Eso deja sin control City Island.
  • EN: - This case is up for grabs.
    ES: Este caso aún colea.
  • EN: Tell your family the whole camp is up for grabs.
    ES: Dile a tu familia que el campamento está disponible.

More Idioms

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Sourced from Wiktionary

Source: Wiktionary

up for grabs: Meaning, Examples & Usage (English) | Idiomator