Real Dictionary

snakes and ladders
a British children's game in which dice are thrown to determine the moves of players' pieces around a board marked with pictures of snakes and ladders, which also affect the play
noun: a board game in which players move counters along a series of squares according to throws of a dice. A ladder provides a short cut to a square nearer the finish and a snake obliges a player to return to a square nearer the start
uncountable noun: Snakes and ladders is a British children's game played with a board and dice. When you go up a ladder, you progress quickly. When you go down a snake, you go backwards.