# hit a snag

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hit-a-snag
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To encounter an unexpected problem or delay.

## Examples

- We hit a snag with the car and arrived late.
- The project was going well until we hit a snag with the budget, which forced us to delay the launch.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.