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in dire straits

prep_phrase

Etymology

First use appears c. 1817. See cite below. The phrase stems from nautical terminology, where straits refers to narrow, treacherous passages of water between landmasses, posing serious navigation risks.

Definitions

  1. In a difficult position or situation.

    • The painter inconsiderately enough borrowed £30 raised for him with difficulty by the poet, and when Keats was himself in dire straits, resented the expectation that it should be repaid.
    • Scouts and Indians from the latter province made frequent raids into Georgia, carrying off cattle without which the Floridians would have been in dire straits for meat.
    • "I understand the country is in dire straits and has a £2 trillion national debt. […]"

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for in dire straits. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA