hard-pressed

Definitions

1. Barely able. Having difficulty doing something.
   idiomatic, usually
2. Experiencing financial difficulty or difficulty in surviving.
   idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“Although they are still available, I think⟳ we would be hard-pressed to find⟳ one on short notice⟳.”

“From the 'fifties onwards the development of the South Wales & Monmouthshire coalfield went on at terrific speed⟳, and railway construction was hard pressed to keep⟳ pace with it.”

“These units will replace⟳ the 2,800 h.p. motor coaches on the fast and heavy Zurich-Berne-Lausanne-Geneva push-and-pull expresses, which in their turn⟳ have⟳ been relieving the hard-pressed 2,520 h.p. Bo-Bo locomotives of the Re 4/4 type⟳.”

“The earthquake left the residents hard-pressed.”

“Speaking to Parliament on March⟳ 23, Sunak announced a temporary cut⟳ in fuel duty of 5p per litre to hard-pressed motorists who have⟳ faced spiralling prices for diesel and petrol in recent weeks.”

CEFR level