Snafu: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ตโ๐ซ
snafu
[ หsnรฆfuห ]
military slang
SNAFU is an acronym derived from the military context, meaning 'Situation Normal: All Fouled Up.' It describes a chaotic or confused situation, often implying that such disarray is expected rather than surprising. The term became popular during World War II and has since been adopted into everyday language.
Synonyms
chaos, disarray, fiasco, mess.
Examples of usage
- The project's SNAFU led to massive delays.
- In the middle of the event, a technical SNAFU occurred.
- He laughed off the SNAFU as part of the adventure.
Translations
Translations of the word "snafu" in other languages:
๐ต๐น snafu
๐ฎ๐ณ เคธเฅเคจเคพเคซเฅ
๐ฉ๐ช snafu
๐ฎ๐ฉ snafu
๐บ๐ฆ ัะฝะฐัั
๐ต๐ฑ snafu
๐ฏ๐ต ในใใใผ
๐ซ๐ท snafu
๐ช๐ธ snafu
๐น๐ท snafu
๐ฐ๐ท ์ค๋ํธ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุณูุงูู
๐จ๐ฟ snafu
๐ธ๐ฐ snafu
๐จ๐ณ ๆททไนฑ
๐ธ๐ฎ snafu
๐ฎ๐ธ snafu
๐ฐ๐ฟ snafu
๐ฌ๐ช แกแแแคแฃ
๐ฆ๐ฟ snafu
๐ฒ๐ฝ snafu
Etymology
The term SNAFU originated in the United States military during World War II as an acronym for 'Situation Normal: All Fouled Up.' It was used to describe the general state of affairs in the military, where chaos and miscommunication were commonplace. The phrase reflects a recognition of the flaws in operations and the inevitability of errors occurring. Over time, the term evolved from a specific military context into a more general expression used in various fields to describe any complicated situation that isn't going as planned. The mockingly humorous nature of the acronym contributed to its longevity and popularity in American English, allowing it to permeate into popular culture and everyday conversations.
Word Frequency Rank
Ranking #39,851, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.
- ...
- 39848 fallaciously
- 39849 weeny
- 39850 whoopee
- 39851 snafu
- 39852 tussling
- 39853 overcooking
- 39854 cultist
- ...