Idiom
Up for grabs
If something is up for grabs, it is available for anyone who wants to take it or win it.
How people use it
People use it for prizes, jobs, seats, titles, leftover food and free items: "The last slice is up for grabs." It suggests open competition or simply that something is free to take. The tone is informal. It is often used in sports and politics coverage when a title or seat has no clear favorite. Something up for grabs does not belong to anyone yet.
Examples
- The last slice of pizza is up for grabs.
- With the top player injured, the championship is up for grabs.
- Two seats on the student council are up for grabs this fall.
Where it comes from
The phrase is American and appeared in the middle of the 1900s. To grab means to seize quickly, and the image is of something set out where anyone can reach for it first. It spread quickly in sports writing and everyday speech.
Check yourself
1. If a job is up for grabs, what does that mean?
Answer: It is open to anyone who wants to compete for it. Up for grabs means available for anyone to take or win.
2. Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Answer: Free tickets to the concert are up for grabs at the front desk.. The tickets are available for anyone who wants them.
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