What does “Snookered” mean?
The phrase "Snookered" originates from the game of snooker. It means being in a situation from which you can see no obvious escape. When someone is "snookered", they find themselves trapped or stuck without any apparent solution or way out.
How is the expression used in real life?
Learn when and how to use these expressions with these examples!
Example
After missing the last train, we were completely snookered in the city.
After missing the last train, we were completely snookered in the city.
Example
She felt snookered when faced with an impossible task at work.
She felt snookered when faced with an impossible task at work.
Example
It seemed like he was snookered in the complex maze.
It seemed like he was snookered in the complex maze.
What context can I use each expression in?
- 1Describing being trapped or stuck
After missing the last train, we were completely snookered in the city.
After missing the last train, we were completely snookered in the city.
She felt snookered when faced with an impossible task at work.
She felt snookered when faced with an impossible task at work.
- 2Expressing a difficult or challenging situation
It seemed like he was snookered in the complex maze.
It seemed like he was snookered in the complex maze.
I was snookered by the unexpected traffic on my way to the meeting.
I was snookered by the unexpected traffic on my way to the meeting.
- 3Describing a situation with no obvious escape
The hikers were snookered when they realized they had lost their map.
The hikers were snookered when they realized they had lost their map.
He felt snookered when he realized he had forgotten his wallet at home.
He felt snookered when he realized he had forgotten his wallet at home.
Good things to know:
What is the origin of the phrase?
The phrase "snookered" originated from the game of snooker, a cue sport that is popular in the United Kingdom. In snooker, when a player's ball is positioned in such a way that they cannot directly hit any other balls, they are said to be snookered. This term has been adopted into everyday language to describe being in a situation from which there is no obvious escape.
Can the phrase be used on its own?
The phrase "snookered" is typically used within a sentence to describe a specific situation. It is not commonly used on its own.
Is the phrase offensive?
The phrase "snookered" is not offensive. It is a slang term used to describe being in a difficult or trapped situation.
Audience for the phrase
The phrase "snookered" is commonly used in the United Kingdom and is familiar to English speakers in that region. It is more likely to be used and understood by people who are familiar with British slang and culture.
Is the phrase specific to an accent or country?
The phrase "snookered" is primarily used in the United Kingdom, where the game of snooker originated. It may not be as widely recognized or used in other English-speaking regions.
