PhrasesHub

Up for grabs

    Definitions

      • available for anyone to take or win
        Refers to something that is not yet claimed or decided and can be taken by anyone

      • uncertain or unpredictable
        Describes a situation or outcome that is not determined or fixed, and can change or be won by different parties

    Examples of Up for grabs

    • The presidency is up for grabs in the upcoming election. With both major party candidates facing high unfavorability ratings, there's an opportunity for a third-party candidate to make a real impact.

      In this example, "up for grabs" means that the outcome of the election is uncertain and open for anyone to win. The phrase implies that there's a chance for an unexpected or unlikely outcome.

    • Due to a lack of interest and resources, the company's latest product launch is now up for grabs. With no clear leader in the market, there's an opportunity for competitors to steal away customers.

      Here, "up for grabs" is used to describe a situation where there's no clear front-runner or dominant player. The phrase suggests that the competition is wide open and anyone could potentially come out on top.

    • The open-source software project has been left up for grabs, with no clear leader or direction. Volunteers are welcome to jump in and take the project in a new direction, but there's a lack of structure and guidance.

      In this example, "up for grabs" is used to describe a situation where there's no clear ownership or responsibility for a project or task. The phrase implies that there's a lack of organization or structure, and that anyone is free to take charge and make decisions.

    • The vacant office space is now up for grabs. With several interested tenants, the property management company is reviewing proposals and expects to make a decision soon.

      This example shows how "up for grabs" can be used to describe a situation where multiple people or entities are competing for something. The phrase implies that a decision or choice will be made eventually, but that there's currently a lot of uncertainty and anticipation.

    • The position of manager at our company is up for grabs after the current manager announced their resignation.

      This means that the job is open for application and someone will be chosen to fill the position.

    • After the auction ended, the valuable antique was up for grabs to the highest bidder.

      This means that the item was won by the person who offered the highest price in the auction.

    • The rights to the new movie adaptation were up for grabs during the recent negotiations between the studio and the author's literary agency.

      This means that the studio was negotiating with the author's agency to acquire the rights to make a movie based on the author's work.

    • The winning prize in the charity raffle was up for grabs during the final draw, and anyone who had purchased a ticket had a chance to win.

      This means that the prize was available to be won by someone who had bought a ticket and had their name drawn at random.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "up for grabs" is used to indicate that something is available for anyone to take or win, or that a situation or outcome is uncertain and can change. It is often used in a casual or informal context to describe opportunities, prizes, or situations that are not yet claimed or decided, and can be pursued or won by different parties.

    The phrase is commonly used in discussions about competitions, sales, opportunities, or situations where the outcome is undecided or can be influenced by different parties. It can also be used figuratively to describe abstract concepts such as power, influence, or control that are not firmly established and can be contested or pursued by different individuals or groups.

    Origin of "Up for grabs"

    The origin of the idiom "up for grabs" can be traced back to sports and games, where the phrase is used to indicate that a prize or opportunity is available for anyone to take or win. In sports, it is often used to describe a situation where a ball, trophy, or victory is not yet claimed by any team or player, and can be pursued or won by different parties.

    The idiom is also commonly used in auctions, sales, and competitions where prizes or opportunities are open to all participants and can be claimed by anyone. Over time, the phrase has been adopted in a wider context to describe any situation or outcome that is not yet decided or fixed, and can be pursued or won by different parties. Its origins in the competitive and uncertain nature of sports and games have contributed to its use in a variety of contexts to describe opportunities or situations that are open to anyone and can change or be won by different parties.