grab by the lapels

verb

To buttonhole someone (into conversation).

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Meanings

verbgrab by the lapels (third-person singular simple present grabs by the lapels, present participle grabbing by the lapels, simple past and past participle grabbed by the lapels)

present singular third person grabs by the lapels · participle present grabbing by the lapels · participle past grabbed by the lapels · past grabbed by the lapels

  1. To buttonhole someone (into conversation).
  2. idiomaticTo exert control over (something).

    Rooney, back in his central role, had a good opportunity soon afterwards but his left foot has never been a great weapon and Suárez was the only attacker here capable of grabbing the game by its lapels.

    2014 June 20, Daniel Taylor, “World Cup 2014: Uruguay sink England as Suárez makes his mark”, in guardian.co.uk
Cite this entry
APA

grab by the lapels. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grab%20by%20the%20lapels

MLA

“grab by the lapels.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grab%20by%20the%20lapels. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “grab by the lapels,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grab%20by%20the%20lapels.

Source: grab by the lapels on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.