# snarl up

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/snarl-up
Updated: 2026-10-23

## Definition

to cause a situation to become stuck or blocked, especially with traffic or a process.

For teachers: to cause a state of congestion or entanglement that prevents movement or progress. Often used in the passive voice to describe traffic conditions or bureaucratic delays.

## Examples

- The heavy snow snarled up traffic for hours.
- A minor accident on the bridge snarled up the entire morning commute, leaving thousands of drivers stranded.
- Unexpected legal challenges snarled up the merger for months, forcing both companies to reconsider their initial timeline.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The traffic was snarl up." but "The traffic was snarled up." — when used as an adjective to describe a state, the past participle 'snarled' is required.

## Usage notes

- commonly used in the passive form ('be snarled up') to describe the state of being stuck.
- Teaching tip: help students visualize the literal meaning of 'snarl' (a knot of hair or thread) to understand how it applies to traffic or complex systems.

---

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.