I'm in a bind
I'm in a difficult situation
TRANSLATION
in a bind = in der Klemme sitzen, in einer Zwickmühle stecken bind (verb) = binden --- GOOGLE INDEX in a bind: approximately 700,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
The company was IN A BIND because as Vista approached launch in 2006, many computers on the market could not run the premium version of the operating system…
(The Seattle Times)
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The devil went down to Georgia,
He was looking for a soul to steal,
He was IN A BIND because he was way behind,
He was willing to make a deal.
(from the song, The Devil Went Down To Georgia, by Charlie Daniels)
(The Seattle Times)
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The devil went down to Georgia,
He was looking for a soul to steal,
He was IN A BIND because he was way behind,
He was willing to make a deal.
(from the song, The Devil Went Down To Georgia, by Charlie Daniels)
Did you
know?
in a bind
prepositional phrase
- to be in a difficult situation in which you are prevented from acting as you might like
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, © Cambridge University Press 2009)
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WORD ORIGIN
As a noun, among other things bind refers to "a difficult, restrictive, or unresolvable situation." It is generally used with "in," as in "in a bind." This phrase is also expressed as "stuck in a bind" or "caught in a bind."
According to Charlie Daniels, even the devil can be in a bind if, as he points out, he is running a little short on souls. Most day-to-day situations in which people find themselves in a bind are a bit less dramatic however, and sometimes funny:
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ANECDOTE
Winston Churchill was scheduled to address the nation one day. He was in a bind because he was running unusually late. He hailed a taxi in London's West End and ordered the cabbie to drive to the BBC as quickly as possible.
"Sorry, sir," the driver replied. "You'll have to find yourself another cab." "And why is that?" Churchill asked. "Ordinarily it wouldn't be a problem, sir," the driver apologetically explained, "but Mr. Churchill is broadcasting at six o'clock and I want to get home in time to hear him."
Churchill, greatly flattered, took a pound note from his wallet and handed it to the cabbie. The man gladly took the tip: "Hop in, sir!" he exclaimed, "The devil with Mr. Churchill!
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SYNONYMS
between a rock and a hard place, in hot water, in a tight spot, in a quandary
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SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:
"I am calling you because I am in a bit of a bind, and I hope you can help me."
prepositional phrase
- to be in a difficult situation in which you are prevented from acting as you might like
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, © Cambridge University Press 2009)
---
WORD ORIGIN
As a noun, among other things bind refers to "a difficult, restrictive, or unresolvable situation." It is generally used with "in," as in "in a bind." This phrase is also expressed as "stuck in a bind" or "caught in a bind."
According to Charlie Daniels, even the devil can be in a bind if, as he points out, he is running a little short on souls. Most day-to-day situations in which people find themselves in a bind are a bit less dramatic however, and sometimes funny:
---
ANECDOTE
Winston Churchill was scheduled to address the nation one day. He was in a bind because he was running unusually late. He hailed a taxi in London's West End and ordered the cabbie to drive to the BBC as quickly as possible.
"Sorry, sir," the driver replied. "You'll have to find yourself another cab." "And why is that?" Churchill asked. "Ordinarily it wouldn't be a problem, sir," the driver apologetically explained, "but Mr. Churchill is broadcasting at six o'clock and I want to get home in time to hear him."
Churchill, greatly flattered, took a pound note from his wallet and handed it to the cabbie. The man gladly took the tip: "Hop in, sir!" he exclaimed, "The devil with Mr. Churchill!
---
SYNONYMS
between a rock and a hard place, in hot water, in a tight spot, in a quandary
---
SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:
"I am calling you because I am in a bit of a bind, and I hope you can help me."
