snatch victory from the jaws of defeat

Meaning

To win a game, match, or competition at the very last moment when a loss seemed absolutely certain. This dramatic expression is highly common in sports commentary, gaming, and storytelling to highlight a thrilling comeback.

Examples

• With a stunning three-pointer at the buzzer, the team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

  With a stunning three-pointer at the buzzer, the team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

• Our favorite esports team managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the final round.

  Our favorite esports team managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the final round.

• It looked like he was going to lose the chess match, but he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

  It looked like he was going to lose the chess match, but he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

• The hero in the movie somehow snatches victory from the jaws of defeat in the final battle.

  The hero in the movie somehow snatches victory from the jaws of defeat in the final battle.

• Against all odds, the underdog runner snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the last ten meters.

  Against all odds, the underdog runner snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the last ten meters.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ They took victory from the mouth of defeat.

  ✓ They snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

  This is a fixed idiom. Changing 'snatch' to 'take' or 'jaws' to 'mouth' ruins the idiom's structure and impact.

• ✗ The team snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat.

  ✓ The team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

  While 'out of' is sometimes understood, the standard preposition used in this idiom is 'from'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Down by ten points with one minute left, they somehow ___.

  💡 Past tense. To win when losing seemed guaranteed.

  Show answer

  snatched victory from the jaws of defeat

• A great champion knows how to ___ when everyone else has given up.

  💡 Base form. To pull off a dramatic win at the last second.

  Show answer

  snatch victory from the jaws of defeat