I. snag 1 /snæɡ/ BrE AmE 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.
REGISTER
Snag is slightly informal. In written English, people usually prefer to use problem or disadvantage instead:
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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
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THESAURUS
▪ 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.
II. snag 2 BrE AmE 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.
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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.
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I tore a hole in my jacket, climbing over the fence.
▪ rip to tear something quickly or violently:
Beth excitedly ripped open the package.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The rug was a little frayed around the edges.
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The jacket was a little frayed at the cuffs.