tight spot en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) A difficult position.
The company's proposal has placed Mr. Carey in a tight spot in the strike by 185,000 United Parcel workers.
1997 August 14, Steven Greenhouse, “Pension Plan Puts Teamsters' Chief in Tight Spot”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:Jays Squeeze Out of Tight Spot Into a 2-1 Lead [title]
1992 October 21, Murray Chass, “Jays Squeeze Out of Tight Spot Into a 2-1 Lead”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:It's been my job for many years and taken me to many places, and into many a tight spot, but, on the railway, you'll always find a comedian in the gang, to raise a laugh and keep you going.
1960 April 14, A. W. Bennett, “The Locomotive Shedmaster's Day”, in Railway Magazine, page 284:
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see tight, spot.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| tight spots | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Synonyms
cauldron · kettle of fish · ass in a sling · cross to bear · hole · calvary · bucket of syrup · cross · quagmire · situation · tight spot · spot of bother · ordeal · bind · dilemma · sticky situation · fix · dire straits · trouble · pinch · kettle · plight · doghouse · quandary · pickle · predicament · difficulty · sticky wicket · spot · jam
Translations (5)
es aprieto (a difficult position) · pl w trudnej sytuacji (a difficult position) · fi tiukka paikka (a difficult position) · pt saia justa (a difficult position) · la artum (a difficult position)