Hardship

20 words

1. 1

   between a rock and a hard placeidiom (phrase)

   To be in a situation where you have to choose between two equally unpleasant or difficult options.

   “If we raise taxes or cut services, we're between a rock and a hard place.”

2. 2

   scrape byphrasal verb/skreɪp baɪ/

   To manage to live or survive with very little money.

   “During college he could only scrape by on a part-time wage.”

3. 3

   make ends meetidiom/meɪk ɛndz miːt/

   to earn just enough money to pay for one's basic needs

   “With rising rents, many families struggle to make ends meet.”

4. 4

   strapped for cashidiom (phrase)/stræpt fɔː kæʃ/

   Having very little money available; short of money.

   “I'm a bit strapped for cash this month, so I can't go on holiday.”

5. 5

   at one's wit's endidiom (phrase)/ət wʌnz wɪts end/

   To be so worried, confused, or annoyed that you do not know what to do next.

   “After hours trying to fix the software, she was at her wit's end.”

6. 6

   be up against itidiom (phrase)/bi ʌp əˈɡenst ɪt/

   To face serious difficulties or obstacles; to be in a difficult situation with little chance to succeed.

   “With the deadline tomorrow and no data, the team was really up against it.”

7. 7

   weather the stormidiom/ˈwɛðə ðə stɔːm/

   to survive a difficult or dangerous period

   “Many small businesses managed to weather the storm during the recession.”

8. 8

   hit a snagidiom (phrasal)/hɪt ə snæɡ/

   To encounter an unexpected problem or obstacle that delays or complicates progress.

   “We hit a snag with the visa application and had to wait another month.”

9. 9

   be up to one's neck (in something)idiom (phrase)

   To be extremely busy with or involved in something, often more than one can handle.

   “I'm up to my neck in coursework this semester.”

10. 10

    be brokeidiom/biː ˈbrəʊk/

    to have no money; to be out of money

    “I can't join you for dinner — I'm broke until payday.”

11. 11

    up a creek (without a paddle)idiom

    in serious trouble or difficulty with no obvious solution

    “After the main sponsor pulled out, the festival organisers were really up a creek without a paddle.”

12. 12

    left high and dryidiom/lɛft haɪ ænd draɪ/

    abandoned in a difficult situation without help

    “The volunteers were left high and dry when the charity stopped funding the project.”

13. 13

    tighten one's beltidiom/ˈtaɪtən wʌnz bɛlt/

    to reduce spending because of financial difficulty

    “During the downturn, many families had to tighten their belts.”

14. 14

    in hot wateridiom/ɪn hɒt ˈwɔːtə/

    in trouble or difficulty, especially with authorities or because of a mistake

    “He was in hot water with his boss for missing the deadline.”

15. 15

    go belly upidiom/ɡəʊ ˈbɛli ʌp/

    to fail completely or go bankrupt, especially a business

    “The small café went belly up after the rent doubled.”

16. 16

    live hand to mouthidiom/lɪv hænd tə maʊθ/

    to have just enough money to survive with nothing saved

    “Many freelancers live hand to mouth, never knowing when the next contract will come.”

17. 17

    on the rocksidiom/ɒn ðə rɒks/

    in serious difficulty or close to failure (often used about relationships or businesses)

    “Their marriage has been on the rocks since he lost his job.”

18. 18

    go through a rough patchidiom/ɡəʊ θruː ə rʌf pætʃ/

    to experience a short period of difficulty or trouble

    “They're going through a rough patch in their marriage but hope to reconcile.”

19. 19

    in a tight spotidiom/ɪn ə taɪt spɒt/

    in a difficult or awkward situation, needing a difficult decision

    “I'm in a tight spot because I promised to help both friends at the same time.”

20. 20

    hit rock bottomidiom/hɪt rɒk ˈbɒtəm/

    to reach the lowest or worst point emotionally or situationally

    “After losing his house and job, he felt he had hit rock bottom.”