the jaws of defeat
noun phrase
: the position of being close to losing
The team was able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat by scoring in the final seconds of the game.
Examples of the jaws of defeat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The team continuously overcame double-digit fourth-quarter deficits to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2026
Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 38 points, including a heroic fourth-quarter effort that enabled the Knicks to wrestle away a victory from the jaws of defeat.
—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
22 May 2026
But from the jaws of defeat, Team USA pulled off an astonishing Olympic comeback, sending the players leaving Italy with gold medals swinging around their necks.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
With Friday's announcement, he's effectively pulled victory from the jaws of defeat.
—
Alex Sherman,
CNBC,
5 Dec. 2025
For three quarters Iowa State looked very much like a team that has lost four straight games, but when the game was on the line, somehow the Cyclones were able to dig deep and find a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Nov. 2025
The Chicago Bears were able to snatch victory away from the jaws of defeat in one of the most entertaining games of the 2025 NFL season.
—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Nov. 2025
Of course, Shrader nailed the 45-yarder, the Colts reached back into the jaws of defeat and yanked out a win, and Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was left to stare blankly into the distance on a sideline bench.
—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Sep. 2025
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Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2026
Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 38 points, including a heroic fourth-quarter effort that enabled the Knicks to wrestle away a victory from the jaws of defeat.
—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
22 May 2026
But from the jaws of defeat, Team USA pulled off an astonishing Olympic comeback, sending the players leaving Italy with gold medals swinging around their necks.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
With Friday's announcement, he's effectively pulled victory from the jaws of defeat.
—
Alex Sherman,
CNBC,
5 Dec. 2025
For three quarters Iowa State looked very much like a team that has lost four straight games, but when the game was on the line, somehow the Cyclones were able to dig deep and find a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Nov. 2025
The Chicago Bears were able to snatch victory away from the jaws of defeat in one of the most entertaining games of the 2025 NFL season.
—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Nov. 2025
Of course, Shrader nailed the 45-yarder, the Colts reached back into the jaws of defeat and yanked out a win, and Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was left to stare blankly into the distance on a sideline bench.
—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“The jaws of defeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20jaws%20of%20defeat. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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