nobble
Americanverb (used with object)
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to drug or disable (a race horse) to prevent its winning a race.
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to convince (a person) by fraudulent methods; misrepresent or lie to.
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to swindle; defraud.
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to seize (a person); hold for arrest.
verb
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to disable (a racehorse), esp with drugs
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to win over or outwit (a person) by underhand means
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to suborn (a person, esp a juror) by threats, bribery, etc
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to steal; filch
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to get hold of; grab
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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
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
It must be tempting to nobble a rival.
From Economist ● Aug. 25, 2011
Oakeshott warns: "It is as wrong as it is stupid for anyone in Whitehall to be trying to nobble the Vickers commission even before it has done its interim report."
From The Guardian ● Apr. 2, 2011
You once nobble that, congregation, and a buck joyride to heaven becomes a back number.
From Ulysses by James Joyce
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
When they nobbled me to do the Millennium show, I told Peter Mandelson that instead of paying for one night they should put £200m into regional theatre.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 12, 2011
Sholomonsh nobbled Lord Bylkington's carriage outshide Shyner's at two o'clock in the morning, and his lordship had to walk home in the rain;” and Levi laughs and wriggles pleasantly over the picture.
From Checkmate by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
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
I seem to remember Iceland winning after nobbling Zaire's Pele-like talisman, who played in bare feet.
From The Guardian ● Sep. 8, 2010
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
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