tight spot

plural tight spots

1. idiomaticA difficult position.

   Jays Squeeze Out of Tight Spot Into a 2-1 Lead [title]

   1992 October 21, Murray Chass, “Jays Squeeze Out of Tight Spot Into a 2-1 Lead”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   2 more examples

   It's been my job for many years and taken me to many places, and into many a tight spot, but, on the railway, you'll always find a comedian in the gang, to raise a laugh and keep you going.

   1960 April 28, A. W. Bennett, “The Locomotive Shedmaster's Day”, in Railway Magazine, page 284

   The company's proposal has placed Mr. Carey in a tight spot in the strike by 185,000 United Parcel workers.

   1997 August 14, Steven Greenhouse, “Pension Plan Puts Teamsters' Chief in Tight Spot”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   Synonyms: ass in a sling, bind, bucket of syrup, calvary, cauldron, cross, cross to bear, difficulty

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see tight, spot.