snatch victory from the jaws of defeat

The first recorded use of the phrase discovered to date is an article criticizing Representative James Seddon of Virginia for claiming that a regiment in the Mexican-American war had "snatched victory from the jaws of defeat."

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snatch victory from the jaws of defeat (third-person singular simple present snatches victory from the jaws of defeat, present participle snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, simple past and past participle snatched victory from the jaws of defeat)

1. (idiomatic) To suddenly win a contest when it appears that loss is a foregone conclusion, to succeed in an endeavor through reversal of fortune, skill, effort, or good judgment.
   • 2010, Liam Maloney, "Sligo snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat," Sligo Weekender (Sligo, Ireland). 16 February.

• snatch defeat from the jaws of victory