[snatch] victory from the jaws of defeat
1
to achieve a victory or success despite initially seeming unlikely or impossible, particularly after experiencing a setback or failure
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.
- 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.
- The soccer team was losing the game 2-0 at halftime, but they managed to score three goals in the second half and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.