snatch victory from the jaws of defeat

Definition & Meaning of "[snatch] victory from the jaws of defeat"

to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat

to achieve a victory or success despite initially seeming unlikely or impossible, particularly after experiencing a setback or failure

What is the origin of the idiom "snatch victory from the jaws of defeat" and when to use it?

The phrase "snatch victory from the jaws of defeat" originated from the Roman gladiatorial games, where winning gladiators who narrowly escaped death were said to have "snatched life from the jaws of death". Over time, the phrase has come to mean turning a situation around and winning after being very close to losing, and is now used to describe any situation where someone achieves success despite facing difficult circumstances.

Example

The family was lost in the wilderness without any food or water, but they managed to find a way out and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by surviving.