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

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

"They are on a sticky wicket with the law," says Ben Goodger, an expert on international IP law and a partner at the law firm Edwards Wildman Palmer.

From BBC • May 28, 2013

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