Synonyms and antonyms of Words used to describe difficult situations in British Thesaurus

stormy (adjective)

involving a lot of anger or arguments

acrimonious (adjective)

an acrimonious situation is unpleasant because people feel angry towards each other

uneasy (adjective)

an uneasy situation is not settled or calm, and it could quickly change and get worse

one thing after another ()

used for saying that you are very angry or upset because you have a lot of problems to deal with

in the wrong place at the wrong time ()

used for saying that something bad happened to someone because they were not lucky, not because they made a mistake

trouble is brewing (for) ()

used for saying that a difficult, dangerous, or violent situation is developing

(in) for it ()

used for saying that you are going to be in trouble because of something that you have done

it’s not someone’s day ()

used for saying that someone is having a lot of problems

out of the frying pan (and) into the fire ()

used for saying that someone who was in a bad situation is now in a worse situation

it never rains but it pours ()

used for saying that problems often seem to happen all at the same time. The American phrase is when it rains, it pours.

back where you started ()

in the same place or situation where you were before, without making any progress

be toast ()

to be going to have serious problems, for example because you will be severely punished

damned if you do, and damned if you don’t ()

used for saying that no action you take in a situation will produce a good result

the fat is in the fire ()

used for saying that something has happened that is going to cause a lot of trouble

the heat is on ()

used for saying that you are under a lot of pressure to do something

heavy (adjective)

a heavy situation or relationship is serious and often not enjoyable

high-pressure (adjective)

used for describing people or situations that make you feel forced to do something or forced to succeed

Houston, we have a problem ()

a way of telling someone that there is a problem

(just) one of those things ()

a situation or an event that you cannot prevent or change

the matter (noun)

used for talking about problems or bad situations

nasty (adjective)

a nasty situation is unpleasant or upsetting

the natives are getting/growing restless ()

used for saying that a group of people are getting impatient and may cause trouble if someone does not take action

not be out of the woods yet ()

used for saying that a situation is still difficult although it has improved

that’s done it ()

used when something goes wrong for saying that you are going to be in trouble

there’s trouble at t’mill ()

used for saying that a group of people or an organization are involved in a disagreement or a difficult situation

things have come to a pretty pass ()

used for saying that a situation has become very unpleasant, difficult, or unacceptable

unforeseen (adjective)

an unforeseen situation, especially a problem, is one that you did not expect

unpleasant (adjective)

used about situations in which people are angry or violent

when the chips are down ()

used for saying what happens when a situation becomes difficult or reaches an important point

you could cut the air/atmosphere with a knife ()

used for saying that a situation was difficult or embarrassing, because people were very angry or upset