Definition

1. Adjective (chiefly British, informal):
   • In a difficult or impossible situation: "snookered" describes being placed in a position where no good options are available, often due to being blocked or trapped by circumstances.
   • In billiards or snooker: "snookered" refers to a situation where a player's cue ball is positioned behind another ball, making it impossible to hit the intended target ball directly.

Usage Examples

• General figurative meaning:

  • After the company lost its biggest client, the entire team was snookered. (The team was in a very difficult situation with no clear solution.)
  • I tried to negotiate a better deal, but they had all the leverage — I was completely snookered. (I had no way to succeed or escape the situation.)

• Billiards/Snooker meaning:

  • He was snookered behind the black ball and had to play a safety shot. (His cue ball was blocked by another ball, preventing a direct shot.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be snookered by something": to be trapped or hindered by a specific obstacle or condition.

  • The project was snookered by unexpected regulatory changes. (The project was blocked or made impossible by new rules.)

• "to snooker someone" (verb form): to place someone in a difficult or impossible position.

  • Their clever legal argument snookered the prosecution. (Their argument blocked the prosecution's options.)

Variants and Related Words

• Snooker (noun): the game of billiards played with 21 coloured balls and a cue ball.
  • He is a champion snooker player. (He excels at the game of snooker.)
• Snooker (verb, informal): to deceive or outmanoeuvre someone.
  • They snookered the competition with a surprise product launch. (They outwitted their rivals.)

Synonyms

• Stuck: unable to move or make progress.
• Cornered: forced into a position with no escape.
• Blocked: prevented from proceeding.
• Trapped: caught in a situation with no way out.

Related Idioms

• "Between a rock and a hard place": in a difficult situation with two equally bad options.
  • He was between a rock and a hard place — either lose his job or betray his friend. (He was snookered with no good choice.)
• "Up a creek without a paddle": in serious trouble with no way to solve it.
  • Without a backup plan, we are up a creek without a paddle. (We are completely snookered.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Snooker out: to eliminate or remove someone from a position of advantage.
  • The new policy snookered out all the old managers. (The policy removed them from their influential roles.)