hit a snag

Idioms  

1. Encounter a problem or obstacle. For example, We've hit a snag with this building project. The noun snag has been used in the sense of “a sharp or rough projection,” such as would impede passage, since the 1500s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hit a snag

It was a tale of two seasons for Smith, who dazzled with a .297/.357/.443 slash line through his first 75 big league games, but hit a snag over his next 59 games, slashing just .153/.248/.232.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2026

Work to replace water pipes in Osaka, a city of 2.8 million residents, has hit a snag as the actual cost exceeded the planned budget, according to local media.

From Barron's ● Feb. 19, 2026

Wall Street’s first public bitcoin-backed bond sale hit a snag after the cryptocurrency’s recent plunge.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 10, 2026

But the family’s rebuilding plan hit a snag.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2025

Like we’re in the computer lab now and hit a snag fifteen minutes ago, and Rae’s been hunched over that notebook ever since.

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone