Reverse Dictionary: DIFFICULT

 ADJECTIVES
– BAD difficult, hard …1882 Eng. dial.
– BALL-BREAKING troublesome, difficult, very irritating, physically demanding, exhausting …1959 US sl.
– BALL-BUSTING troublesome, difficult; irritating; physically demanding, exhausting  …1944 US sl.
– BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE without a satisfactory alternative; in difficulty; bewildered; perplexed; baffled …Bk1942 Amer. colloq.
– BETWEEN HAWK AND BUZZARD in a difficult or uncomfortable position …1856 Amer. dial.
– BETWEEN HAY AND GRASS between seasons of plenty, hence, in a difficult or uncomfortable position …1939 Amer. dial.
– DEAR † hard, difficult …a1225
– DERE † hard, difficult …a1225
– DERF † troublesome, hard, difficult …a1225
– DITCHED in difficulties, in trouble …L19 US sl.
– DODGY risky, difficult, or dangerous …Aust. & NZ colloq.
– DONE FOR in serious difficulty …colloq.
– EASY AS PUSHING SHIT UPHILL WITH A TOOTHPICK extremely difficult …Bk1999 Aust. sl.
– EASY AS SPEARING AN EEL WITH A SPOON extremely difficult …Bk1999 Aust. sl.
– FUNNY difficult, problematic, out of the ordinary …L19 sl.
– HAIRY bad, difficult, undesirable …1848 UK sl.
– HARD AS OLD NICK very difficult to do …1965 Amer. dial.
– HARD-MATTER difficult …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– HARD-TURNED difficult; hard to approach …1949 Amer. dial.
– HARLIN difficult, close; exhausting, severe …1807 Eng. dial.
– IFFEY difficult …1930s sl., orig. US
– IFFY difficult …1930s sl., orig. US
– ILL hard, difficult …1660 Sc. & Eng. dial.
– ILL-SET placed in a difficulty …1834 Eng. dial.
– IN A BAD LOAF in trouble; in a difficult situation …L18
– IN A JAM in an awkward or difficult situation …1914 colloq.
– IN A PEPPER-POT in a mess, in difficulties …17C sl.
– IN A PICKLE in a mess, in difficulties, in trouble …a1620
– IN ARSEHOLE STREET in difficulties, facing problems …1950s sl.
– IN A SLING in difficulties …1940s US sl.
– IN A TIGHT in a difficult situation …1903 Amer. dial.
– IN BAD BREAD in trouble; in a difficult situation …L18
– IN BACK-HOUSE DYKE behindhand, late; in difficulties, in a dilemma …1889 Eng. dial.
– IN HUCKSTER’S HANDS in a bad way; in difficulties …L16 sl.
– IN SUDS † in difficulties, in embarrassment or perplexity ..c1572
– INTERESTING in computing: annoying or difficult …1991 US sl.
– IN THE CACK in difficulties …1940s Aust. sl.
– IN THE CACTUS in difficulties, in trouble, esp. with one person …1944 Aust. sl.
– IN THE SOUP in a difficulty …1889 orig. US
– IN THE SUDS † in difficulties, in embarrassment or perplexity ..1603
– JADED placed in circumstances of almost inextricable difficulty …Bk1902 Eng. dial.
– JAMMED UP in a difficult situation; in trouble …1920s sl.
– JAWBREAKING difficult …1872 sl.
– LABORIFEROUS †* that takes pains; that endures labour, painful, difficult …1656
– LIKE HAULIN’ A LOG OUT’N A SCALDIN’ TUB comparison to denote difficulty …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
– MAN-SIZE difficult …1945 US sl.
– MUCH AS A BARGAIN, AS very difficult, all one could do …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
– NEED-STEAD † in difficulty or danger …1456
– NEEF, KNEEF † difficult, arduous …1808 Sc. 
– ON A STICKY WICKET facing an awkward or difficult situation; in difficulties, in trouble …1931 colloq.
– ON QUEER STREET experiencing difficulties, esp. financial difficulties; in a vulnerable position …1952 UK sl.
– OUT ON A LIMB in a difficult or exposed position …1897 US
– POPPED in a difficult situation …1980s US college sl.
– QUEER in difficulties …1920s sl.
– QUISQUOUS perplexing, subtle; difficult to discuss, deal with, or settle; ticklish …1721 Sc.
– RANSTIEST hardest, most difficult …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– RAVELLED tangled, confused, muddled, in difficulties …1721 Sc.
– ROCKY difficult, hard …L19
– SCABROUS full of difficulties 
– SNOOKERED placed in a deliberately difficult position or impossible situation …1915 UK sl.
– SOLID severe, difficult, unfair, unreasonable …1910s Aust. & NZ sl.
– STICKY of a situation, event, issue, etc.: awkward, difficult, tricky; disagreeable, uncomfortable …1871 colloq.
– STYMIED confused; frustrated; in difficulties …20C sl., orig. US
– SUBTILE † difficult, abstruse …c1386
– TICKLE difficult to deal with …1570
– TICKLESOME difficult, critical, delicate, precarious …1585 now Eng. dial.
– TICKLY puzzling, difficult …Bk1905 Sc.
– TIGHTISH rather ‘stiff’ or difficult; somewhat difficult to accomplish …1786
– TREED in difficulties …M19 sl.
– UGLY difficult …1990s US students’ sl.
– UMPTY unpleasant, difficult …1910s sl., orig. military
– UMPTY-UMPH unpleasant, difficult …1910s sl., orig. military
– UNEASY difficult …1900 Eng. dial.
– UNFURTHERSOME † difficult …1838 Eng. dial.
– UNREAL used positively to denote something incredibly good, and negatively, to denote something unbelievably difficult, awful, unpleasant, or deplorable …1965 sl., orig. & chiefly US
– UP AGAINST facing problems, in difficulties …L19 sl., orig. US
– UP A GUM-TREE in difficulties; in a predicament; in trouble …1926 Aust. sl.
– UP ARSEHOLE STREET in difficulties, facing problems …1950s sl.
– UP A TREE in difficulties …M19 sl.
– UP A WATTLE in trouble, in difficulties, facing a problem …20C sl., orig. Aust.
– WAFF difficult, unpleasant …1865 Sc.

ADVERBS
1422 ► WITH NEED with difficulty; not easily or readily → obs.
1533 ► PAINFULLY in a way that gives trouble; with difficulty
1535 ► HARDLY not easily, with difficulty → obs.
1548 ► WITH MUCH ADO with much trouble or difficulty
1560 ► WITH THE SKIN OF ONE’S TEETH with difficulty, narrowly, barely
1893 ► BY THE SKIN OF ONE’S TEETH with difficulty, narrowly, barely
1905 ► HARD AND SHARP scarcely, hardly, with difficulty, barely → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1905 ► UNGAINLY circuitously; with difficulty → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1935 ► BY THE HARDEST with great difficulty → Amer. dial.

NOUNS
– ADOS difficulties …Bk1898 Sc.
– AGGRO any form of problems, difficulties, harassment …1960s sl.
– AGONY problems, difficulties …M19 sl.
– AGRO any form of problems, difficulties, harassment …1960s sl.
– APORIA a perplexing difficulty …1893
– ARDUITY †* steepness; arduousness; difficulty …1623 
– ASS-KICKER an exceedingly difficult task or opponent …1973 Amer. sl.
– ASS-WIPER something overpoweringly difficult to deal with …1966 Amer. sl.
– BAD NEWS an unpleasant situation; difficulties; trouble …1940s sl., orig. US
– BALLBREAKER that which is bitterly trying or unpleasant, esp. an agonizing or difficult task, experience, etc.; a bitter disappointment …1942 US sl.
– BALLBUSTER that which is bitterly trying or unpleasant, esp. an agonizing or difficult task, experience, etc.; a bitter disappointment …1942 US sl.
– BALL-CRUSHER that which is bitterly trying or unpleasant, esp. an agonizing or difficult task, experience, etc.; a bitter disappointment …1970 US sl.
– BALL-WRACKER a difficult task …M20 US sl.
– BAPTISM OF FIRE a difficult or frightening introduction to something …Bk1999 
– BEAR a difficult task …M20 US sl.
– BEAR TRAP a difficult or undesirable situation …1835 Amer. dial.
– BIG ASK, A something which is a lot to ask of someone; something difficult to achieve or surmount …1975 colloq.
– BITCH something regarded as outstanding of its kind, esp. in unpleasantness; something difficult or formidable …1964 Amer. dial.
– BIZNATCH ‘bitch’; a spiteful or unpleasant woman; a difficult or unpleasant situation or thing …2002 US euphemism
– BIZNITCH ‘bitch’; a spiteful or unpleasant woman; a difficult or unpleasant situation or thing …2002 US euphemism
– BOOGER something distasteful, troublesome, or discomforting; something that is very difficult to do …1956 Amer. dial.
– BUSINESS a difficult matter …1843 colloq.
– CAFLUGALTY a trouble; difficulty; a row; an argument …1910s Amer. sl.
– CAFUGELTY trouble; difficulty; a row; an argument …1914 Amer. sl.
– CAN OF BEANS an unpleasant, complex, and unappetizing situation; an intertwined set of problems; an array of difficulties …1940s sl., orig. US
– CAN OF PEAS an unpleasant, complex, and unappetizing situation; an intertwined set of problems; an array of difficulties …1940s sl., orig. US
– CAN OF WORMS an unpleasant, complex, and unappetizing situation; an intertwined set of problems; an array of difficulties …1940s sl., orig. US
– CORBIES’ NEST a difficult or embarrassing situation …1877 Sc. 
– CRAW’S NEST a difficult or embarrassing situation …1877 Sc. 
– CRUM-A-GRACKLE a mess, a difficulty, a bother, a perplexity …19C Eng. dial.
– DAIBLES scrapes, difficulties …1887 Eng. dial.
– DEAD LIFT a position in which one can do no more, an extremity; a difficulty without assistance …1567 now arch. or Eng. dial.
– DEAD TROUBLE an extremely difficult situation; deep trouble …1971 UK sl.
– DEVIL OF A TIME a very difficult time …Bk2006 US sl.
– DIABLES difficulties, embarrassments, scrapes …1866 Eng. dial.
– DIBLES difficulties, embarrassments, scrapes …1866 Eng. dial.
– DIBUT a difficulty, a scrape …Bk1900 Eng. dial.
– DICHEL a bad scrape, a difficulty …Bk1900 Sc.
– DIFFICACITY †* difficulty …1656
– DIFFUCALTY difficulty …c1960 Amer. dial.
– DILDERMOT an obstacle, a great difficulty …Bk1900 Sc.
– EGG-DANCE an intricate and difficult task …1801
– EMBROGLIO a state of great confusion and entanglement; a complicated or difficult situation (esp. political or dramatic); a confused misunderstanding or disagreement …1818
– FALL problems, difficulties; a ‘fall from grace’ …1910s criminals’ sl.
– FIX trouble, a difficult position …1834 US sl.
– GREAT HAND, A anything difficult to manage; a ‘handful’ …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– HABBLE a difficulty, a state of muddle or perplexity; a quandary; a tangle …1797 Sc.
– HAG(G) a worry, trouble, burden; a difficulty …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– HAM-SCRAM a difficult situation …1948 Amer. dial.
– HAMSTRAM difficulty …1768 Sc.
– HANDFUL someone or something difficult to cope with …1887 sl.
– HARASS difficulty, great trouble …1876 Eng. dial.
– HARD CHANCE a difficult time, trouble …1957 Amer. dial.
– HARD NUT TO CRACK, A a very difficult question, undertaking, or problem …Aust. sl.
– HARD ROW OF STUMPS, A trouble; a difficulty …1884 Amer. dial.
– HARD ROW TO HOE a long or difficult matter to accomplish …Bk1905 Amer. dial.
– HASSLE trouble or annoyance caused by having to do something difficult; a problem, a difficulty; a quarrel, an argument; a fuss, a bother …1945
– HELL-BUSTER something extremely difficult or arduous …1949 Amer. dial.
– HOBBLE a difficult situation, from which it is hard to extricate oneself …L18 sl.
– HOOKER a difficult question on an examination …1971 Amer. sl.
– HUMP any difficulty; a problem …20C
– ILL illness, pain; disease; difficulty …1813 Sc. & Eng. dial.
– IMBROGLIO a state of great confusion and entanglement; a complicated or difficult situation (esp. political or dramatic); a confused misunderstanding or disagreement …1818
– JAZZER a catch; a hidden difficulty …1918 Amer. sl.
– JUBBERTY a difficulty; a vexatious occurrence; a misfortune …B1900 Eng. dial.
– LARGE ORDER something big, exaggerated, or very difficult …1930 colloq.
– LAST STRAW, THE a slight addition to a burden or difficulty that makes it finally unbearable 
– LAST STRAW THAT BREAKS THE CAMEL’S BACK, THE a slight addition to a burden or difficulty that makes it finally unbearable 
– LONG ROW TO HOE a long or difficult task to perform …Bk1905 Amer. dial.
– MAGRIM a difficulty; an awkward predicament …1870 Eng. dial.
– MAJOR MALFUNCTION a ludicrous or irritating source of difficulty, esp. a problem attributable to stupidity or incompetence …1987 US military sl.
– MAMMA anything very large, difficult, or challenging …1970 Amer. sl.
– MONKEY PANTS a difficult situation …1950 Trinidad & Tobago
– MONKEY’S FIST † something difficult to understand, a puzzle …1901 chiefly nautical
– MUDDAFUKKA a difficult thing or situation …1995 US sl.
– NAUSE, NAUZE an inconvenience; a difficulty; an unpleasant person or thing …1977 Brit. sl.
– NEEDS-END difficulties …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– NEEF, KNEEF † difficulty, bother …1748 Sc. 
– NEIF difficulty; need …1742 Sc.
– OLD MAN a difficult job …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– OLD ONE a difficult job …Bk1900 Eng. dial.
– PAINFULNESS the quality of causing trouble or labour; difficulty, troublesomeness, irksomeness …1526 arch.
– PAIN IN THE ASS a difficult or unpleasant task or subject …20C US colloq.
– PAIN IN THE DERRIERE a difficult or unpleasant task or subject …20C US colloq.
– PAIN IN THE REAR a difficult or unpleasant task or subject …20C US colloq.
– PALAVER difficulty, trouble, bother …1953
– PARTY a difficult, demanding situation …1960s sl.
– PICKLEMENT a difficult or awkward situation; a predicament …1945 Amer. dial.
– PISSER any difficult task or situation; a task which is likely to make you angry …20C US sl.
– PUSH a scrape, difficulty …Irish sl.
– QUEER STREET an imaginary street where people in difficulties are supposed to reside; hence, any difficulty, fix, or trouble, bad circumstances, debt, illness, etc. …1837 sl.
– RED a difficult or problematic situation …1990s W. Indies sl.
– ROUGH SHAKE an unfair or difficult situation …E19 sl.
– SALT trouble, annoyance, difficulties …1950s African-American & W. Indies sl.
– SALVE † a solution of a difficulty; also, a sophistical excuse or evasion …a1628
– SCOURING † a difficult affair …Bk1904 Eng. dial.
– SCRAWL a difficulty, hobble …Bk1904 Eng. dial.
– SCROBBLE a state of difficulty or trouble; a ‘scrape’ …Bk1904 Eng. dial.
– SCUFFLE difficulty; great hardship …1890s African-American sl.
– SHOWER † a stroke of misfortune; a hardship or difficulty; an injury …a1375
– SNORTER something outstandingly impressive or difficult …Brit. slang
– STICKY WICKET an awkward or difficult situation …1930 colloq.
– TANGLE a difficulty; a state of mental confusion or perplexity …1873 Sc.
– TANGLEMENT a difficulty; anything involved or confused …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– TAVE a  difficulty, struggle, pinch; hard labour; the act of labouring hard …Bk1905 Sc.
– TAW difficulty; a great to-do …Bk1905 Sc.
– TAWEN † a difficulty; a great do-do …Bk1905 Sc.
– TEW a struggle, difficulty; a laboured effort; fatigue, trouble; an annoyance, a worry or fretting; a state of anxiety, nervous excitement, confusion, or impatience; a disturbed state …1864 Sc. & Eng. & Amer. dial.
– THROUGH-GANG labour, difficulty; perseverance; energy …Bk1905 Sc.
– THROUGH-GATE a season of difficulty …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– TIFFY-TAFFY a difficult piece of work …B1900 Eng. dial.
– WHIPPER-TOOTIES silly scruples about doing anything; groundless excuses for not trying to do something; frivolous difficulties …1808 Sc.

​NOUNS, PERSON
– BEAR a gruff, ill-tempered person; a difficult person …1638 sl.
– BEARK an active, aggressive person; one who is difficult to manage …Bk1971 Boonville California jargon
– BITCH a difficult person …Bk2006 US sl.
– BITCH KITTY an obstinate, disagreeable, or bad-tempered girl or woman; a difficult, irritable, complaining woman …c1930 Amer. sl.
– CACAFOGO a cacafuego; a spitfire; a furious, fierce fellow; a braggart; a blusterer; a noisy bully; a very difficult or devilish person; one with a fiery temper …1625 sl.
– CACAFUEGO, CACAFUGO, CACOFUEGO a spitfire; a furious, fierce fellow; a braggart, a blusterer, a noisy bully; a very difficult or devilish person; one with a fiery temper …1625
– CASE an unusual, queer, or peculiar person; a character; a disreputable person; a difficult fellow …1859 Amer. dial.
– COLD PIECE OF WORK a person who is difficult to deal with …Bk2006 US sl.
– DUNGEON † a wicked, malicious, or difficult person; a ‘devil’ …a1728 Sc. & Eng. dial.
– GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT a person whose passion for work or tendency for creating troublesome situations for himself seems insatiable; someone who does something painful or difficult again and again …1869
– HAITHEN an intractable or difficult person …1949 Sc.
– HANDFUL a person who is strong-willed and difficult to control or deal with; a troublesome person; a badly behaved person …1887
– HANGMAN a difficult person …2002 NZ sl.
– HARD CASE a hardened criminal; an outlaw; a person who is difficult to dangerous to deal with; a tough, ruthless, aggressive person …1836 colloq., orig. US
– HARD GUY a difficult person …1986 US college sl.
– HARD LOG a person who is difficult or dangerous to deal with; an aggressive or unsentimental person, a tough person; a dangerous enemy …1929 US sl.
– HARD NUT a person who is difficult or dangerous to deal with; an aggressive or unsentimental person; a tough, pugnacious, or recalcitrant person; a dangerous enemy …1848
– HARD NUT TO CRACK someone who is difficult to deal with, esp. one with a tendency to violence …1999 US sl.
– HARD-ON a stupid, despicable, or contemptible person; a difficult, tough, or aggressive person; a stubborn, belligerent person; a despicable man; orig. and frequently used as a term of abuse …1958
– HARD TICKET a person who is difficult or dangerous to deal with; an unscrupulous person; a ruthless, uncompromising, tough, or recalcitrant person …1847 sl., orig. & chiefly US
– HELLER a difficult, formidable, extraordinary, exciting, unmanageable, or troublesome person …1895 colloq., orig. & chiefly US
– HESPER a difficult person to get on with …1931 Ireland
– MOOCHIN a difficult or disagreeable person, esp. a child; sometimes used as a scolding term of reproach …1940 Welsh English
– PARCEL a difficult, troublesome person; a term of abuse …20C Irish sl.
– QUAGMIRIST † one who makes a quagmire of himself; one who gets himself into a situation which is difficult to get out of; a person who is, or believes others to be, inextricably involved in some unpleasant situation …1655
– TACKLE a quick and rather troublesome child; a difficult child …Bk1880 Eng. dial.
– TICKLER a shrewd, cunning person; a difficult person to  deal with …1887 Sc.
– VENTURER one who undertakes something risky, difficult, or dangerous …a1560
– WAMPUS a mean, difficult or objectionable person; an offensive or loathsome person …1912 Amer. dial.
– WAMPUS CAT a virago; a mean, difficult, or objectionable person …1915 Amer. dial.

PHRASES
– BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE facing a hard decision; in a very difficult position …Bk2006 US sl.
– COME HELL OR HIGH LIVING something will definitely happen, no matter the difficulty or obstacle; come hell or high water …1968 Amer. dial. 
– DEVIL COULD NOT DO IT UNLESS HE WERE DRUNK, THE said of anything very difficult to perform …1892 Sc.
– FIRST HUNDRED YEARS ARE THE HARDEST, THE the first difficulties are the greatest …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– JAMMED IN A CLINCH LIKE JACKSON involved in a difficulty of a secondary degree …1867 US sailors’ sl.
– NOT TO HALLOO UNTIL ONE IS OUT OF THE WOOD not to shout till one is safe from robbers in the forest; not to exult till all danger or difficulty is past …1801
– ONE’S ASS IS IN THE WIND one is exposed to difficulty or danger …1964 Amer. sl.
– ON YOUR ARSE in dire straits, esp. financial …1917 US sl.
– SAME SHIT, DIFFERENT DAY used to suggest that a particular situation, or life generally, is unchangingly and relentlessly difficult or unpleasant …1987
– THAT WATER’S NOT WADEABLE that difficulty will not easily be overcome …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– UP TO ONE’S ARMPITS IN ALLIGATORS in a difficult, dangerous, or chaotic situation; beset by problems or demands …1982 sl., chiefly US
– UP TO ONE’S ASS IN ALLIGATORS in a difficult, dangerous, or chaotic situation; beset by problems or demands …2004 sl., chiefly US
– UP TO ONE’S EARS IN ALLIGATORS in a difficult, dangerous, or chaotic situation; beset by problems or demands …1964 sl., chiefly US
– UP TO ONE’S EYEBALLS IN ALLIGATORS in a difficult, dangerous, or chaotic situation; beset by problems or demands …1984 sl., chiefly US
– UP TO ONE’S NECK IN ALLIGATORS in a difficult, dangerous, or chaotic situation; beset by problems or demands …1970 sl., chiefly US

VERBS
– BAT ON A STICKY WICKET to contend with difficulties …1930 colloq.
– BATTLE THE WATCH to do one’s best in difficulty circumstances …World War II Amer. sl.
– BE IN A BOX to be in a fix, to be in a difficult or embarrassing situation; to be in a dilemma …a1555
– BE IN DEEP SHIT to be in trouble or difficulty …1969 sl.
– BE IN THE SHIT to be in trouble or difficulty …1929 sl.
– BE LEFT to fail; to be outdistances metaphorically; to be placed in a difficult situation …c1895 colloq.
– BE LEFT IN THE LAPS † to be left in difficulties, ‘in the lurch’ …1598
– BE UP A GUM-TREE to be in great difficulties …1829
– BUCK A BULL OFF THE BRIDGE to meet the most difficult challenge or perform the most difficult task …1916 Amer. dial.
– BUGGER ABOUT to cause difficulties for someone …1957 Brit. sl.
– BUGGER AROUND to cause difficulties for someone …1957 Brit. sl.
– BUNKER to be placed in a situation from which it is difficult to extricate oneself; to put in difficulty …1894
– BUTT THE BULL OFF THE BRIDGE to meet the most difficult challenge or perform the most difficult task …1946 Amer. dial.
– CATCH A COLD to run into difficulties …Bk1999 
– CLAW OFF A LEE SHORE to face serious difficulties in a task or project …1963 US sl.
– COME THROUGH THE HARD to encounter difficulties; to experience adverse fortune …1795 Sc.
– COME UP SMILING to face a difficult circumstance without showing fear or complaining …M19 sl., orig. boxing usage
– DIFFICILITATE † to make difficult; the opposite of facilitate …1611 rare or obs.
– DIFFICULT to put in a difficulty, to perplex, to puzzle …1631 Sc.
– DO DICKISES to perform some difficult feat which another cannot do …Bk1900 Eng. dial.
– FACE THE MUSIC to deal stoically with a problem or difficult situation …1850 sl.
– FALL IN to find oneself in difficulties …M19 sl.
– FALL IN THE SHIT to get into trouble; to find oneself in difficulties …c1870 colloq.
– FALL OUT OF THE PAN INTO THE FIRE to escape from one evil only to fall into a greater one …1596
– GET A FALL to find oneself in difficulties; to come to grief …1970s US sl.
– GET IN A TIGHT to run into difficulty …1967 Amer. dial.
– GET IN A TIGHT CRACK to get into trouble or difficulty …1926 US sl.
– GET LEFT to fail; to be outdistanced metaphorically; to be placed in a difficult situation …c1895 colloq.
– GET ONE’S ASS IN A CRACK to get into trouble or difficulty …1966 US sl.
– GET ONE’S TAIL IN A CRACK to get into trouble; to get oneself into a difficult situation …1961 US sl.
– FIND A HAIR IN THE NECK to experience a difficulty or annoyance …1885 Sc.
– HAGGLE to advance with difficulty; to do anything with much obstruction, to struggle …1875 Sc. & Eng. dial.
– HAVE A HAIR IN THE NECK to experience a difficulty or annoyance …1885 Sc.
– HAVE A RAVELLED HASP to be in a difficulty …1737 Sc.
– HAVE A WOLF BY THE EARS to be in a precarious or difficult situation or predicament …1560
– HAVE ONE’S TAIL IN A CRACK to be in a difficult situation …1901 Amer. dial.
– HAVE ONE’S TAIL IN A SPLIT STICK to be in a difficult situation …1946  Amer. dial.
– JACKSON to contrive to get out of difficulty …1903 Amer. dial.
– KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD to delay dealing with a difficult situation …1983 US colloq.
– LEAVE TO THE LONG SANDS † to leave in the lurch, to place in a difficulty …1671 Sc.
– LOOK FOR A NEEDLE IN A BOTTLE OF HAY to attempt an extremely difficult, impossible, or foolish task …1742
– LOOK FOR A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK to attempt an extremely difficult, impossible, or foolish task …1855
– LOOK FOR A NEEDLE IN A MEADOW to attempt an extremely difficult, impossible, or foolish task …c1530
– PLAY ON A STICKY WICKET to contend with difficulties …1931 colloq.
– PUSH SHIT UPHILL to attempt a difficult or impossible task …1983 Aust. & NZ 
– PUT A SCOTCH ON ANYTHING to put difficulties in its way …1868 Eng. dial.
– PUT IN A CROSS to put into a difficult situation …1950s African-American sl. 
– ROW AGAINST WIND AND TIDE to undertake a difficult or arduous task; to work in adverse circumstances or in the face of opposition …1867
– SALT UP to cause trouble for; to place in a difficult or embarrassing situation …1980s US college sl.
– SCRAT WHERE IT DOESN’T ITCH to be in a difficulty; to be at a loss what to do (scrat = scratch) ..Bk1904 Eng. dial.
– SCRAT WHERE IT DOESN’T YUCK to be in a difficulty; to be at a loss what to do (scrat = scratch) ..1684 Eng. dial.
– SEEK A KNOT IN A BULRUSH to look for or make difficulties when there are none …1340
– SEEK A NEEDLE IN A BOTTLE OF HAY to attempt an extremely difficult, impossible, or foolish task …1690
– SEEK A NEEDLE IN A TRUSS OF HAY to attempt an extremely difficult, impossible, or foolish task …1711
– SHOE THE GRAY GOOSE to spend one’s time uselessly; to undertake a difficult and profitless business …1892
– SHOOT ONESELF IN THE FOOT to make one’s own situation worse; to cause oneself difficulty or harm inadvertently …1959
– SNATCH A CLUB FROM HERCULES to attempt an impossible or very difficult task …1832
– SOUP to place in difficulties, to cause to fail, to bring to grief …1895 colloq.
– SPELL ABLE to perform a difficult task in fulfilment of a boast …Bk1905 Sc.
– SPELL BAKER to perform a difficult or challenging task; to be up to the mark …M19 sl.
– TAKE A BIT OF DOING to require all one’s efforts; to be difficult to do …1910s colloq.
– TAKE A DROP to find oneself in difficulties; to come to grief …1970s US sl.
– TAKE A FALL to find oneself in difficulties; to come to grief …1970s US sl.
– TAKE A LOT OF DOING to require all one’s efforts; to be difficult to do …1910s colloq.
– TAKE SOME DOING to require all one’s efforts; to be difficult to do …1910s colloq.
– TAR THE FINGERS TO DO A THING to meet with difficulty in accomplishing it; to be unwilling to do it …Bk1905 Sc.
– THROW A KINK INTO to create a difficulty for; to thwart …1930 Amer. sl.
– WORK AT ARM’S END * to work under difficult or disadvantageous conditions …1804
– WORK AT ARM’S LENGTH * to work under difficult or disadvantageous conditions …1859