Difficulty - Experiencing Difficulties

Discover how English idioms like "through the wringer" and "in a tight corner" relate to experiencing difficulties in English.

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(in|into) hot water [phrase]

in a situation that has unpleasant consequences for one

Ex: After missing the important client meeting , he found himself in hot water with his boss .

{one's} [back] (against|to) the wall [phrase]

in a situation where one has little choice to do what they want or need to

Ex: When the company was on the brink of bankruptcy , the CEO had his back against the wall and had to make some tough decisions .

[be] (way|) in over {one's} head [phrase]

to get involved with something that is too difficult for one to handle or get out of

Ex:

behind the eight ball [phrase]

in a situation that involves difficulty, particularly one that is worse compared to that of others

Ex: Missing the deadline for the important project put the team behind the eight ball , and they had to work hard to catch up .

black hole [noun]

a difficult state or condition that is not easy to escape from

Ex: The never-ending paperwork and bureaucracy in the government agency created a black hole of inefficiency .

the (odds|cards) [are] stacked against {sb} [sentence]

used to denote that someone has little chance of success in a given situation

Ex:

for the best [phrase]

used for saying that something is going to be of advantage despite causing difficulty at the moment

Ex: Although he was sad to leave his old job , he believed it was for the best because the new opportunity offered more growth potential .

in a (pretty|) pickle [phrase]

in a situation that presents a serious problem

Ex: Forgetting his wallet at home left him in a pretty pickle when it came time to pay the restaurant bill .

in a (tight|) spot [phrase]

in a situation that is difficult to deal with

Ex: After forgetting to prepare for the presentation , he found himself in a tight spot during the meeting , trying to improvise .

in a tight corner [phrase]

in a difficult situation, particularly one that is not easy to deal with or get out of

Ex: After making a serious mistake at work , he was in a tight corner , uncertain of how to rectify the situation .

in dire straits [phrase]

a situation with a lot of difficulties

Ex: The charity provided assistance to families in dire straits , helping them with basic necessities .

in the grip of {sth} [phrase]

used for saying that someone or something is affected or taken over by a very difficult or undesirable situation

Ex: The country was in the grip of a severe economic crisis , affecting everyone 's livelihood .

rabbit hole [noun]

a situation marked by complexity, confusion, or strangeness, which is often difficult to escape from

Ex: Their advice is not meant to send you down a rabbit hole , and involve you in chaos and disorder .

through the wringer [phrase]

experiencing many difficulties or challenges

Ex: She freely admits she has ` been through the wringer ' in her personal life .

troubled waters [phrase]

a situation that is filled with a lot of problems, confusion, or disorganization

Ex: Their relationship had always been in troubled waters , marked by constant arguments and disagreements .

up (a|the) creek (without a paddle|) [phrase]

used to convey that one is in a difficult or challenging situation without a clear solution

Ex:

when the chips [are] down [phrase]

used for referring to the time at which a situation gets really problematic, serious, or challenging

Ex:

school of hard knocks [phrase]

tough, real-life experiences and challenges that one faces in life, often resulting in practical knowledge

Ex: Growing up in a rough neighborhood taught him more than any school – he 's a graduate of the school of hard knocks .

in the same boat [phrase]

in an unpleasant or difficult situation as same as what another person is experiencing

Ex: After the storm , all the neighbors who suffered property damage found themselves in the same boat .

sea legs [noun]

a person's ability to adjust to a new or unfamiliar situation

Ex: After a few weeks in the new job , Sarah finally found her sea legs and started to feel more confident in her role .

to [make] a man (out|) of {sb} [phrase]

(of a difficult situation) to make a man tougher or more responsible

Ex: The army will soon make a man out of you .

to [fall] to pieces [phrase]

to experience a strong emotional or mental struggle, where someone feels overwhelmed, upset, and unable to handle their emotions

Ex: The news of the accident made him fall to pieces , and he could n't concentrate on anything .

to [scratch|scrape] a living [phrase]

to have or earn just enough money or resources to meet basic needs and survive

Ex: After losing his job , he had to scratch a living by doing odd jobs around the neighborhood .

Difficulty
Hard Tasks	Difficult Challenges	Causing Difficulty	Troublemaking
Adding Complexity	Experiencing Difficulties	Facing Unpleasantness	Easy Tasks
Without Effort	Acceptance & Relief	Means & Solutions