Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory

idiom

/tə snæʧ dɪˈfiːt frəm ðə dʒɔːz əv vɪkˈtɔːri/

Definition

To lose a seemingly certain victory or success because of one’s own mistakes or misjudgment.

Examples

Despite leading the game for most of the time, the team managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the last few minutes.
Her careless mistake in the final presentation caused her to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, losing the deal she had worked so hard for.

Meaning

This phrase refers to a situation where someone was very close to winning or achieving something but ends up failing due to a lack of caution or poor decision-making.