snag

American  

[snag] / snæg /

noun

1. a tree or part of a tree held fast in the bottom of a river, lake, etc., and forming an impediment or danger to navigation.

2. a short, projecting stump, as of a branch broken or cut off.

3. any sharp or rough projection.

4. a jagged hole, tear, pull, or run in a fabric, as caused by catching on a sharp projection.

5. any obstacle or impediment.

6. a stump of a tooth or a projecting tooth; snaggletooth.

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verb (used with object)

snagged, snagging

1. to run or catch up on a snag.

2. to damage by so doing.

3. to obstruct or impede, as a snag does.

   He snagged all my efforts.

4. to grab; seize.

   to snag the last piece of pie.

verb (used without object)

snagged, snagging

1. to become entangled with some obstacle or hindrance.

2. to become tangled.

   This line snags every time I cast.

3. (of a boat) to strike a snag.

4. to form a snag.

snag British  

/ snæɡ /

noun

1. a difficulty or disadvantage

   the snag is that I have nothing suitable to wear

2. a sharp protuberance, such as a tree stump

3. a small loop or hole in a fabric caused by a sharp object

4. engineering a projection that brings to a stop a sliding or rotating component

5. a tree stump in a riverbed that is dangerous to navigation

6. a standing dead tree, esp one used as a perch by an eagle

7. slang (plural) sausages

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verb

1. (tr) to hinder or impede

2. (tr) to tear or catch (fabric)

3. (intr) to develop a snag

4. (intr) (of a boat) to strike or be damaged by a snag

5. (tr) to clear (a stretch of water) of snags

6. (tr) to seize (an opportunity, benefit, etc)

snag Idioms  

1. see hit a snag.

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Other Word Forms

• snaglike adjective
• unsnagged adjective

Etymology

Origin of snag

First recorded in 1570–80, snag is from the Old Norse word snagi point, projection

Example Sentences

Despite the snags, the joint effort had brought the building closer together in the face of the unrelenting Russian attacks, he said.

From Barron's

Why a $4 billion Blue Owl funding snag has investors on edge.

From MarketWatch

“It’s worth a try anyway. You go over there and beat on that old hollow snag with your club, and I’ll do some whooping.”

From Literature

The league has been without a labor contract since October 2025, and the housing issue is just one snag.

From MarketWatch

The surest way to snag great travel tips and become overwhelmed and riled up all at once while planning a vacation?

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• barrier
• bug
• crunch
• difficulty
• disadvantage
• drawback
• glitch
• hitch
• holdup
• hurdle
• impediment
• inconvenience
• obstacle
• stumbling block