dire straits

[dahyuhr streyts]

plural noun

1. very difficult circumstances.

   With inflation so high, I've been talking to many more people lately who are in dire straits.

   Once facing dire straits, the theater has bounced back since producing this hit show.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dire straits¹

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

Storm-ravaged communities in western Jamaica were facing dire straits Sunday, days after record-setting Hurricane Melissa left towns demolished and at least 28 people dead across the island.

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Still, Wu said, those facing dire straits due to the shutdown should prioritize essential needs like their mortgage or rent over immediate credit preservation.

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“People selling lots are in dire straits. They don’t care whether offers come from international buyers or not,” he said.

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Put it all together, and the U.S. economy is in dire straits, possibly heading toward a shoal.

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After all, her next book is a roman à clef about Gala, and writing about a woman who might be in dire straits would be exploitative.

Read more on Los Angeles Times