sticky wicket

American  

noun

1. Cricket. the area of ground around a wicket when it is tacky because of recent rain and therefore does not allow the ball to bounce well.

2. Chiefly British. a situation requiring delicate treatment; an awkward situation.

   In telling his wife that he has to be away for a month in Cannes, he'll be batting on a sticky wicket.

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sticky wicket British  

noun

1. a cricket pitch that is rapidly being dried by the sun after rain and is particularly conducive to spin

2. informal a difficult or awkward situation (esp in the phrase on a sticky wicket )

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Etymology

Origin of sticky wicket

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Indeed, football finance expert Kieran Maguire told BBC Sport that Fifa would be on "a fairly sticky wicket" if it was seen to be treating clubs unequally.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

Another sticky wicket for my husband and I: How well should the chores be done?

From Slate • Jan. 2, 2019

The whole issue of 2018 estimated r.e. taxes paid in 2017 will be an extremely sticky wicket.

From New York Times • Dec. 28, 2017

Presumably no one associated with creating the characters wanted to go there, to get into such a sticky wicket.

From Time • Aug. 9, 2012

“My advice is to not get tangled up with the law to begin with. Once you do, it’s a sticky wicket, that’s for sure! Not easy to extricate oneself, har har.”

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood