snatch the pebble

verb

To fully grasp the meaning of a concept or to develop a skill to a high degree of proficiency, often that rivals some specific expert.

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Meanings

verbsnatch the pebble (third-person singular simple present snatches the pebble, present participle snatching the pebble, simple past and past participle snatched the pebble)

present singular third person snatches the pebble · participle present snatching the pebble · participle past snatched the pebble · past snatched the pebble

  1. colloquialidiomaticTo fully grasp the meaning of a concept or to develop a skill to a high degree of proficiency, often that rivals some specific expert.

Origin

From the 1970s television series called Kung Fu starring David Carradine. In the title sequence to this series, the protagonist (a young martial arts student) is finally able to snatch a pebble from his master's hand, indicating he has developed sufficient skills and wisdom and is ready to leave the school and venture into the world.

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Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

Source: snatch the pebble on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.