snag
[noun]
Synonyms:
- difficulty, catch, complication, disadvantage, downside, drawback, hitch, obstacle, problem
[verb]
Synonyms:
- catch, rip, tear

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Related Idioms: snags and sawyers
Related Words: brake, clog, curb, drag, hold-up

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English Thesaurus: setback, snag, hitch, trouble, hassle, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. snag¹ /snæɡ/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language]

1. a problem or disadvantage, especially one that is not very serious, which you had not expected:
It’s an interesting job. The only snag is that it’s not very well paid.
hit/run into a snag
The grand opening hit a snag when no one could find the key.

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Snag is slightly informal. In written English, people usually prefer to use problem or disadvantage instead:
The only disadvantage is that it takes a little longer.

2. a part of a dead tree that sticks out, especially one that is under water and can be dangerous

3. a sharp part of something that sticks out and holds or cuts things that touch it

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. snag² verb (past tense and past participle snagged, present participle snagging) [transitive]

1. to damage something by getting it stuck on something sharp:
Oh no! I’ve snagged my stockings.

2. American English informal to succeed in getting something, especially something difficult to get:
I snagged a parking space in the last row.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

snag
noun
ADJ. big, major | minor, small A minor snag is that it's expensive.
possible, potential | technical
VERB + SNAG hit We've hit a technical snag: the printer isn't compatible with my PC.
iron out There are a few snags to iron out before the prototype is ready.
PREP. ~ in one of the snags in the scheme
~ to There is a snag to the job: you have to work at weekends.
~ with I suddenly saw the major snag with the whole idea.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

setback a problem that stops you from making progress:
The space program suffered a major setback when the space shuttle, Discovery, exploded.
snag informal a problem, especially one that you had not expected:
There’s a snag – I don’t have his number.
hitch a small problem that delays or prevents something:
There have been a few last-minute hitches.
trouble when something does not work in the way it should:
The plane developed engine trouble.
hassle spoken a situation that is annoying because it causes problems:
Just trying to store all this stuff is a hassle.
tear to damage paper or cloth by pulling it too hard, or letting it touch something sharp:
She unwrapped the present carefully, trying not to tear the paper.
I tore a hole in my jacket, climbing over the fence.
rip to tear something quickly or violently:
Beth excitedly ripped open the package.
Stop pulling my dress! You’ll rip it!
split to tear your trousers or shirt when you put them on, because they are too tight for you:
He bent down and split his trousers.
Oh no, now I’ve split my shirt.
ladder British English if a woman ladders her tights or STOCKINGS, she tears them so that a long thin line appears in them:
Damn! I’ve laddered my tights!
shred to deliberately destroy letters, documents etc by cutting them into thin pieces, often by using a special machine:
In order to prevent fraud, it’s best to shred your bank statements.
I went through all my papers shredding things I didn’t need.
frayed torn a little along the edges – used about clothes, carpets etc that have been used a lot:
He was wearing an old pair of frayed jeans.
The rug was a little frayed around the edges.
The jacket was a little frayed at the cuffs.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

tear to damage paper or cloth by pulling it too hard, or letting it touch something sharp:
She unwrapped the present carefully, trying not to tear the paper.
I tore a hole in my jacket, climbing over the fence.
rip to tear something quickly or violently:
Beth excitedly ripped open the package.
Stop pulling my dress! You’ll rip it!
split to tear your trousers or shirt when you put them on, because they are too tight for you:
He bent down and split his trousers.
Oh no, now I’ve split my shirt.
ladder British English if a woman ladders her tights or STOCKINGS, she tears them so that a long thin line appears in them:
Damn! I’ve laddered my tights!
snag to catch a piece of clothing on something rough or sharp so that it tears slightly:
I snagged my shirt on a nail.
shred to deliberately destroy letters, documents etc by cutting them into thin pieces, often by using a special machine:
In order to prevent fraud, it’s best to shred your bank statements.
I went through all my papers shredding things I didn’t need.
frayed torn a little along the edges – used about clothes, carpets etc that have been used a lot:
He was wearing an old pair of frayed jeans.
The rug was a little frayed around the edges.
The jacket was a little frayed at the cuffs.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲