English Reference
Idiom idiom

hit a snag


To encounter an unexpected problem or delay.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

We hit a snag with the car and arrived late.

CONTEXTUAL

The project was going well until we hit a snag with the budget, which forced us to delay the launch.

COMPLEX

Although the construction team had planned for every contingency, they hit a snag when they discovered unstable soil beneath the foundation, halting all progress for weeks.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    don't let the door hit you on the way out

    Used as a command to leave in haste, or to indicate that one is glad, or at least unmoved, to see the addressed person leaving.

  2. 02

    fall out of the ugly tree and hit every branch

    To become extremely unattractive.

  3. 03

    hit a lick

    To earn a large sum of money in a short amount of time, usually illegally.

  4. 04

    hit a wall

    To come up against an insurmountable problem.

  5. 05

    hit above one's weight

    Alternative form of punch above one's weight.

  6. 06

    hit and run

    A road accident in which a driver hits someone and then drives away without stopping to help or take responsibility.

  7. 07

    hit below one's weight

    Alternative form of punch below one's weight.

  8. 08

    hit home

    To be especially memorable, meaningful, or significant; to be fully understood, believed or appreciated.

Last updated August 10, 2026