They played poorly and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
snatch defeat from the jaws of victory
idiomTo suddenly lose a contest one seemed very likely to win, especially through mistakes or bad judgment.
Origin
disputed originAn ironic reversal of snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
The team led by ten points until the final minute, when they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory with two careless errors.
Despite holding a commanding lead throughout the entire tournament, the champion faltered at the final hurdle and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
- 01
get wind in one's jaws
To have too much to say; talk too much; run at the mouth; to speak one's mind or voice one's opinion about a matter; blabber
- 02
snatch the pebble
To fully grasp the meaning of a concept or to develop a skill to a high degree of proficiency, often that rivals some specific expert.
- 03
snatch victory from the jaws of defeat
To suddenly win a contest when it appears that loss is a foregone conclusion, to succeed in an endeavor through reversal of fortune, skill, effort, or good judgment.
- 04
victory at sea
Ocean conditions that are very windblown and messy, possibly to the point of being inimical to surfing and other watersports.