Phrase guide

hit a snag

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To encounter an unexpected problem or delay.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Their plans to finish the garden that weekend hit a snag when an unseasonal snowfall dropped several inches on what should have become the pumpkin patch that day.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: op een moeilijkheid stuiten — to encounter an unexpected problem or delay
  • Finnish: törmätä ongelmaan — to encounter an unexpected problem or delay
  • Finnish: kohdata ongelma — to encounter an unexpected problem or delay
  • Finnish: kohdata vastoinkäyminen — to encounter an unexpected problem or delay
  • French: tomber sur un os — to encounter an unexpected problem or delay
  • German: hängenbleiben — to encounter an unexpected problem or delay
  • German: auf Schwierigkeiten stoßen — to encounter an unexpected problem or delay
  • Hungarian: nehézségbe ütközik — to encounter an unexpected problem or delay
  • Spanish: encontrar un problema inesperado — to encounter an unexpected problem or delay
  • Swedish: stöta på patrull — to encounter an unexpected problem or delay
  • Swedish: stöta på problem — to encounter an unexpected problem or delay