dire straits

名词 n.
中文释义

英文释义

名词 n.
  1. A difficult position or situation. idiomatic,plural,plural-only
    — After being shipwrecked on the island, we were in dire straits.

词形变化

dire straights alternative

词源

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.
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