Where "Snag" Comes From
Australian slang for a sausage, first recorded in 1937. The Australian National Dictionary Centre says it is likely from British (mainly Scottish) dialect "snag", meaning a morsel or light meal. Green's Dictionary of Slang also gives 1937 as the earliest use, from a Perth newspaper.
It's become the default, near-universal Australian word for a barbecue sausage: "snags on the barbie" is one of the most recognisable food phrases in the dictionary.
Sources: Meanings & origins: S (Australian National Dictionary Centre) · snags, n. (Green's Dictionary of Slang)
"Grab us a snag from the barbie, mate."
How Aussies Actually Use It
"Snag" is used constantly around the barbecue — "throw another snag on the barbie" is about as Australian as it gets.
It's also the base of the classic "sausage sizzle," a fundraising staple at Australian schools, sports clubs, and hardware stores.
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