nobble
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to drug or disable (a race horse) to prevent its winning a race.
-
to convince (a person) by fraudulent methods; misrepresent or lie to.
-
to swindle; defraud.
-
to seize (a person); hold for arrest.
verb
-
to disable (a racehorse), esp with drugs
-
to win over or outwit (a person) by underhand means
-
to suborn (a person, esp a juror) by threats, bribery, etc
-
to steal; filch
-
to get hold of; grab
-
to kidnap
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of nobble
First recorded in 1840–50; back formation from nobbler, variant of hobbler ( def. ) (dialectal phrase an 'obbler being taken as a nobbler )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Several who have been subject to the office’s inquiries were involved in the effort, at a closed-door meeting of Republican congressmen, to nobble it.
From Economist ● Jan. 5, 2017
In other words, Mr Corbyn’s operation has decided it needs to ditch the flowery stuff and nobble its enemies.
From Economist ● Apr. 14, 2016
The senior officer denied allegations that the man was held and questioned in a bid to "nobble" him and sabotage attempts by Brendan McConville and John Paul Wootton to overturn their convictions.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2013
Richards did not try to nobble the opposition or weaken them by having a man sent off.
From The Guardian ● May 29, 2010
For the chairman has his own Red Tape Rats to let loose with which to startle the audience and nobble the Press.
From The Confessions of a Caricaturist, Vol. 2 by Harry Furniss
If this player turns up and is not nobbled by either Manchester United in the FA Cup final or Inter Milan in the Champions League final I am convinced City will achieve the Treble.
From BBC ● May 29, 2023
A couple of hours before, Asher-Smith revealed a hamstring problem had nobbled her chances.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2021
But now, on our penultimate morning in Iran, as we waited for our meeting at the media company, we were nobbled by the representative of the Iranian travel agency, the pretty, fretful Ms Akhundi.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 7, 2015
Apparently even Private Eye was nobbled this way.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 10, 2013
If they knew he'd been "nobbled," they'd greatly rejoice; Then they'd back other cracks—Dissolution for choice— With a confident mind.
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 102, May 21, 1892 by Various
Is this the version of the Tom Hanks movie where Captain Sully Sullenberger spends the first act nobbling the engines?
From The Guardian ● Jun. 7, 2019
I seem to remember Iceland winning after nobbling Zaire's Pelé-like talisman, who played in bare feet.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 6, 2013
By nobbling Flood, South Africa removed England's most experienced player from the match.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 24, 2012
The track's under a glass shield to stop you nobbling the horses.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
If they think they’re coming nobbling us about with their war-clubs and getting nothing back, they’re precious well mistaken, so scuffle up all you can, and— Oh!
From Jack at Sea All Work and no Play made him a Dull Boy by William Heysham Overend
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
