snooker: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal (verb, figurative sense); Formal/Technical (noun, as a sport).
Quick answer
What does “snooker” mean?
A cue sport played on a large rectangular table covered with green cloth (baize) with six pockets, in which players use a cue to strike white and red balls, aiming to pot them in a specific sequence for points.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A cue sport played on a large rectangular table covered with green cloth (baize) with six pockets, in which players use a cue to strike white and red balls, aiming to pot them in a specific sequence for points.
To leave one's opponent in a difficult position in the game of snooker, where the required ball is obstructed. Figuratively: to place someone in a difficult or impossible situation; to thwart, obstruct, or defeat.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The noun (the sport) is understood in both varieties, but is more culturally prominent and frequently discussed in the UK. The verb meaning 'to thwart' is almost exclusively British; the corresponding American concept would use phrases like 'put in a bind' or 'stymie'.
Connotations
In the UK, 'snooker' as a sport carries connotations of skill, tradition, and pubs. The verb can have a slightly playful or cunning connotation. In the US, it is primarily recognized as an obscure British sport.
Frequency
High frequency in UK sports/media contexts; low frequency in general US English. The verb is moderately frequent in UK informal language, rare in US English.
Grammar
How to Use “snooker” in a Sentence
[VERB] snooker somebody (into doing something)[VERB] be/get snookered[NOUN] play/have a game of snookerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “snooker” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The sudden train strike snookered our plans to get to the airport.
- He cleverly snookered his political opponent with that parliamentary manoeuvre.
American English
- The weather snookered our picnic plans. (Understood contextually, but marked as British)
- I feel completely snookered by this bureaucracy. (Rare, likely in influenced dialects)
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A (not standard). 'Snookered' is a participle/adjective from the verb: 'I'm snookered!'
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The new regulations have completely snookered our expansion plans." (Informal, UK)
Academic
Rare, except in studies of sports history or sociology.
Everyday
"Fancy a game of snooker down the social club?" (UK) / "I was totally snookered by that last-minute change." (UK)
Technical
"He expertly laid a snooker behind the brown ball, leaving his opponent with no direct shot on the red."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “snooker”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “snooker”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “snooker”
- Using 'snooker' as a synonym for all cue sports (it is one specific game).
- Using the verb in formal American English where it would be misunderstood.
- Incorrect spelling: 'snuker', 'snookered'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Billiards is a general term for cue sports. Snooker is played on a larger table with 21 balls (15 reds, 6 colours). Pool (or pocket billiards) is typically played on a smaller table with 15 numbered balls and a cue ball. The rules and objectives differ significantly.
It is not standard in American English and may cause confusion. Americans are more likely to use 'stymied', 'blocked', 'thwarted', or 'in a bind'.
Yes, it describes a negative situation for the person who is snookered. However, for the person who does the snookering, it can imply clever or strategic success.
The most cited etymology is that it derives from late 19th-century British army slang 'snooker', meaning a first-year cadet or a novice. The game was allegedly invented by British Army officers stationed in India.
A cue sport played on a large rectangular table covered with green cloth (baize) with six pockets, in which players use a cue to strike white and red balls, aiming to pot them in a specific sequence for points.
Snooker is usually informal (verb, figurative sense); formal/technical (noun, as a sport). in register.
Snooker: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsnuː.kər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsnʊk.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to be snookered (trapped or thwarted)”
- “That's snookered him! (expressing that someone has been cleverly blocked).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SNOoty lookER (snooker) who blocks your view at the cinema, putting you in a difficult position to see the screen – just like the game tactic.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION IS WAR / OBSTRUCTION IS A PHYSICAL BLOCK. The verb extends the spatial obstruction in the game to any situation where progress is blocked.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'snooker' most likely to be used as a verb?