hard-pressed

comparative more hard-pressed · superlative most hard-pressed · alternative hard pressed · alternative hardpressed

1. idiomaticusuallyBarely able; having difficulty doing something.

   Although they are still available, I think we would be hard-pressed to find one on short notice.

   2 more examples

   From the 'fifties onwards the development of the South Wales & Monmouthshire coalfield went on at terrific speed, and railway construction was hard pressed to keep pace with it.

   1939 September, D. S. Barrie, “The Railways of South Wales”, in Railway Magazine, page 157

   These units will replace the 2,800 h.p. motor coaches on the fast and heavy Zurich-Berne-Lausanne-Geneva push-and-pull expresses, which in their turn have been relieving the hard-pressed 2,520 h.p. Bo-Bo locomotives of the Re 4/4 type.

   1962 December, “Beyond the Channel: Switzerland: Federal Railways' progress”, in Modern Railways, page 417

   Synonyms: hard pushed, hard put

2. idiomaticExperiencing financial difficulty or difficulty in surviving.

   The earthquake left the residents hard-pressed.

   1 more example

   Speaking to Parliament on March 23, Sunak announced a temporary cut in fuel duty of 5p per litre to hard-pressed motorists who have faced spiralling prices for diesel and petrol in recent weeks.

   2022 April 6, “Network News: Spring Statement: Sunak accused of making rail less competitive”, in RAIL, number 954, page 8

   Synonyms: in dire straits