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in a pickle

[/ɪn ə ˈpɪkəl/]
idiom/adjective phrase
em apuros; em um dilema; em maus lençóis
1. in a difficult or problematic situation; in trouble or distress
I'm in a pickle because I promised to help two friends at the same time.
Estou em apuros porque prometi ajudar dois amigos ao mesmo tempo.
2. facing a challenging predicament with no easy solution
The company is in a pickle after losing its main client.
A empresa está em maus lençóis depois de perder seu principal cliente.
Synonyms
in troublein a bindin a jamin hot waterin a predicamentin a tight spot
Antonyms
in good shapeout of troublehome free

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
em apuros; numa enrascada
most common usage in Brazilian Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro
numa enrascada; em maus lençóis
informal, colloquial usage
São Paulo
em apuros; numa situação difícil
standard and widely understood
Portugal
em dificuldades; num aperto
slightly more formal tone in European Portuguese

Related Idioms & Phrases

in a bind
in a jam
in hot water
between a rock and a hard place
up the creek without a paddle
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