| has gloss | (noun) a complex or critical or unusual difficulty; "the dangerous situation developed suddenly"; "that's quite a situation"; "no human situation is simple"
situation |
| lexicalization | eng: situation |
| subclass of | (noun) a condition or state of affairs almost beyond one's ability to deal with and requiring great effort to bear or overcome; "grappling with financial difficulties"
difficulty |
| has subclass | (noun) a situation in which a public official's decisions are influenced by the official's personal interests
conflict of interest |
| has subclass | (noun) an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty; "they went bankrupt during the economic crisis"
crisis |
| has subclass | (noun) a critical situation that arises because of a shortage (as a shortage of time or money or resources); "an end-of-the year crunch"; "a financial crunch"
crunch |
| has subclass | (noun) a highly contentious or hazardous situation; "talk of invading Iraq stirred up a political hornets' nest"
hornets' nest, hornet's nest |
| has subclass | (noun) a difficult situation; "he dropped the topic like a hot potato"
hot potato |
| has subclass | (noun) an awkward situation; "that's a fine how-d'ye-do"
how-do-you-do, how-d'ye-do |
| has subclass | (noun) an intricate and confusing interpersonal or political situation
imbroglio, embroilment |
| has subclass | (noun) a situation in which no one can emerge as a clear winner
Mexican standoff |
| has subclass | (noun) a situation resembling a terrifying dream
incubus, nightmare |
| has subclass | (noun) a situation in which a favorable outcome is impossible; you are bound to lose whatever you do
no-win situation |
| has subclass | (noun) a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs
straits, pass, strait |
| has subclass | (noun) a temporary condition of torment or suffering; "a purgatory of drug abuse"
purgatory |
| has subclass | (noun) a situation fraught with difficulties and imponderables; "he was trapped in a medical swamp"
swamp |
| has subclass | (noun) a problematic situation that will eventually become dangerous if not addressed; "India is a demographic time bomb"; "the refugee camp is a ticking bomb waiting to go off"
time bomb, ticking bomb |
| has subclass | (noun) a dangerous state of affairs; a situation that is a potential source of violence; "the Balkans are the tinderbox of Europe"
tinderbox |
| has subclass | (noun) an urgent situation calling for prompt action; "I'll be there, barring any urgencies"; "they departed hurriedly because of some great urgency in their affairs"
urgency |
| has subclass | (noun) a situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible; "reached an impasse on the negotiations"
impasse, deadlock, dead end, stalemate, standstill |
| has subclass | (noun) a treacherous situation that tends to entrap and destroy
quicksand |