SNAFU
Situation normal, all fouled up
CensoredExample
That last game was just a big snafu. Hopefully, we'll do better next time
Agreed
SNAFU definition by Slang.net
This page explains what the acronym "SNAFU" means. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the Slang.net team.
We are constantly updating our database with new slang terms, acronyms, and abbreviations. If you would like to suggest a term or an update to an existing one, please let us know!
Baseball Slang Quiz: Can you bat 1.000?
SNAFU is a quick way to refer to an error or problem that has arisen and is causing issues with a current plan or situation. People typically use it as a noun (e.g., your boss may complain about a newly hired employee, saying, "If he makes another snafu, we're going to have to cut him loose"). Additionally, people may sometimes use cruder words instead of "fouled."
Origin of SNAFU
The acronym was popularized as military slang (along with FUBAR) during World War II (1940s) as American soldiers (and some officers) used it to describe the madness of warfare as a normal state (often sarcastically) when prompted for a status report. It then entered the greater lexicon as journalists used it, and civilians adopted it to describe things causing problems in their more mundane lives.