In a bind
adjective phrase
In a very tight and awkward situation; stalled by a dilemma; in a box: I’m in a bind, damned if I do and damned if I don’t
[1940s+ Loggers; fr the situation of a logger whose saw is caught and held tight by the weight of a tree or branch]
Also, in a box or hole or jam or tight corner or tight spot . In a difficult, threatening, or embarrassing position; also, unable to solve a dilemma. For example, He’s put us in a bind: we can’t refuse, but at the same time we can’t fill the order , or Jim’s in a box; he can’t afford to pay what he owes us , or He quit without giving notice and now we’re really in a hole , or We always end up in a jam during the holiday season , or He’s in a tight corner with those new customers , or We’ll be in a tight spot unless we can find another thousand dollars . All these colloquial terms allude to places from which one can’t easily extricate oneself. The phrase using bind was first recorded in 1851; box , 1865; jam , 1914; tight spot , 1852. Also see in a fix
Read Also:
- In a box
adjective phrase In a very tight and awkward situation; stalled by a dilemma; in a box: I’m in a bind, damned if I do and damned if I don’t [1940s+ Loggers; fr the situation of a logger whose saw is caught and held tight by the weight of a tree or branch] adverb phrase In […]
- In a breeze
see under hands down
- In a bucket
Related Terms for crying out loud
- Inaccessibility
[in-uh k-ses-uh-buh l] /ˌɪn əkˈsɛs ə bəl/ adjective 1. not accessible; unapproachable. /ˌɪnækˈsɛsəbəl/ adjective 1. not accessible; unapproachable adj. early 15c., from Middle French inaccessible (14c.), from Late Latin inaccessibilis “unapproachable,” from in- “not” (see in- (1)) + accessibilis (see accessible). Related: Inaccessibly; inaccessibility. Earlier in same sense was unaccessible (c.1400).
- Inaccessible
[in-uh k-ses-uh-buh l] /ˌɪn əkˈsɛs ə bəl/ adjective 1. not accessible; unapproachable. /ˌɪnækˈsɛsəbəl/ adjective 1. not accessible; unapproachable adj. early 15c., from Middle French inaccessible (14c.), from Late Latin inaccessibilis “unapproachable,” from in- “not” (see in- (1)) + accessibilis (see accessible). Related: Inaccessibly; inaccessibility. Earlier in same sense was unaccessible (c.1400).