The idiom “in dire straits” refers to a serious situation with no easy solution. It is often used to add impact to speech and can be used in less serious situations for exaggeration.
“In dire straits” is an English idiom that refers to someone who has somehow found himself in a very serious situation. The implication with this phrase is often that the person or people who find themselves in such a situation may not be able to extricate themselves from it. Consequently, there is a serious undertone that often accompanies the use of this phrase. The authors of this sentence were seafarers who had to cross dangerous waters.
Sometimes speakers choose to describe ideas or feelings in very clear and literal terms. However, talking like this can get stilted and unexciting after a while. As a result, many people use short phrases known as idioms, which may have meanings accepted by a specific culture even if they differ vastly from the literal definitions of the words they contain. These idioms are perfect for those people who want to sound more conversational and impactful in their speech. One such idiom is the phrase “in dire straits”.
The accepted meaning behind this phrase is that the person described in this way is in a lot of trouble. Circumstances have arisen that leave someone in a desperate situation from which there seems to be no remedy. Consequently, a phrase is needed that evokes such serious images. For example, someone might say, “I can’t believe the plane is out of fuel and now I’m afraid all the passengers are in dire straits.”
Naturally, the phrase is flexible enough to be used on less sombre occasions. Using it in less serious situations implies that there is some exaggeration on the part of the speaker. The issues they face may not be life or death, even if they are especially damaging in their specific circumstances. For example, consider the statement: “I thought our team would be able to come back, but it seems they are in dire straits now.”
In the latter example, a relatively mundane event is depicted in dramatic fashion. Such exaggeration gets to the heart of what idioms are supposed to accomplish. If this particular phrase were taken literally, it would mean that everyone described in this way was in danger of drowning in dangerous waters. Instead, it is accepted that the idiom “in dire straits” refers to a problem situation that can occur anytime, anywhere.
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