pickle

Examples

• All

• We're in a real pickle, dare I say, right?

  Matthew Hussey

• Look, buddy, we're in a real pickle here.

  Welcome to Collinwood (2002)

• Bit of a pickle then.

  A Haunting in Venice (2023)

• As such, we are obviously in a pickle, and the question is: what do we do about it?

  Blog text (11)

• I am in a pickle!

  Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

• I'm in something of a pickle here.

  Pretenders (2021)

• God, she's left me in a right pickle here.

  Merchant Ivory (2024)

• I thought I had this trick down, but I've got myself in a bit of a pickle.

  Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2022)

• Sounds like you're in a real pickle, Fitz.

  The Gray Man (2022)

• I found myself in a real pickle when I forgot my friend's birthday.

Synonyms

M

mess

vspickle

∞ 1.0

A situation in which things are untidy and confused

refers more to an awkward difficult situation that is hard to get out of

H

hole

vspickle

457 6.0

A weak point in an argument or plan

focuses more on a fault or flaw rather than chiefly on awkward difficulty

C

corner

vspickle

• Informal

197 6.2

A difficult situation with no easy way out

means a more extreme case where escape may be nearly impossible rather than just hard

F

fix

vspickle

• Informal

81 6.0

A difficult situation that is hard to change

focuses more on awkwardness and being hard to escape rather than mere trouble

J

jam

vspickle

• Informal

61 6.1

A difficult situation that is hard to escape or fix

is often used for temporary trouble rather than long inescapable trouble

I

in a jam

vspickle

• Informal

14 6.7

In trouble and needing help to fix a problem

highlights awkwardness as well as difficulty rather than only resolvability

M

muddle

vspickle

9 5.0

A confused, disorganized situation where things are not in order

is about awkward difficult situations that are hard to resolve rather than mere confusion

I

in a tight spot

vspickle

• Informal

8 4.2

In a difficult situation that is hard to get out of

is informal in tone while this is more neutral in register

I

in a pickle

vspickle

• Informal

7 8.3

In trouble and not sure what to do

is used more for situations that are especially hard to get out of

T

tricky situation

vspickle

4 3.7

A difficult situation that is hard to deal with

focuses more on being hard to get out of rather than on complexity

K

kettle of fish

vspickle

• Informal

2 8.6

A difficult situation that causes trouble

emphasizes being hard to get out of rather than just being problematic

Antonyms

E

ease

304 1.0

A state of comfort and freedom from worry

Idioms

I

in a pickle

• Informal

7 8.3

In trouble and not sure what to do

P

pickle up one's ass

• Offensive

9.9

To feel very irritated or upset about something small

T

to tickle someone's pickle

• Slang

9.9

Make someone feel very happy and amused

Compounds

D

dill pickle

• US

3 1.6

A cucumber that people keep in salt water or vinegar and flavor with dill

S

sweet pickle

2 2.7

A vegetable kept in sugar and vinegar that tastes sweet and sour

P

pickle relish

1 2.0

A sweet, chopped topping of cucumbers in vinegar used on burgers and hot dogs

B

bread and butter pickle

• US

3.1

A sweet thin slice of cucumber kept in vinegar, sugar, and onion

P

pickle barrel

3.1

A large wooden barrel that holds cucumbers or vegetables in vinegar

How Serious

catastrophe

176 7.0

crisis

∞ 3.1

pickle

• Informal

48 6.0

problem

∞ 1.2

difficulty

651 2.4

Surface Forms

Etymology