hard put

Friendly

The phrase "hard put" is an adjective that describes a situation where someone is facing difficulty or trouble, especially related to finances. When someone is "hard put," they are in a challenging position and may struggle to manage their situation.

Explanation:

• Simple Definition: If you are "hard put," it means you are having a tough time, often with money or resources.
• Usage Instructions: You can use "hard put" to describe someone or a group that is in a difficult situation, particularly when they are short on money or facing challenges.

Examples:

1. Financial Example: "After losing his job, John was hard put to pay his bills."
2. General Example: "The small business was hard put to keep its doors open during the pandemic."

Advanced Usage:

• In more advanced contexts, "hard put" can also imply that someone is struggling with a problem that requires significant effort to solve, not just financial issues.

Variants:

• The phrase can be seen in other forms like "hard-pressed," which means the same thing and can be used interchangeably.
  • Example: "The charity is hard-pressed for donations this year."

Different Meanings:

• While "hard put" primarily refers to financial difficulty, it can also describe situations where one is under pressure or stress in general, not limited to financial issues.

Synonyms:

• Hard-pressed
• In trouble
• Struggling
• In a tight spot
• In a difficult position

Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• In a bind: This means being in a difficult situation where you have limited options.

  • Example: "I found myself in a bind when my car broke down and I had no money for repairs."

• Strapped for cash: This means to have very little money available.

  • Example: "She was strapped for cash after her unexpected expenses."

Summary:

To summarize, "hard put" is used to express a state of struggle, primarily related to financial difficulties, but can also apply to other challenging situations.

Academic

Adjective

1. facing or experiencing financial trouble or difficulty
   • distressed companies need loans and technical advice
   • financially hard-pressed Mexican hotels are lowering their prices
   • we were hard put to meet the mortgage payment
   • found themselves in a bad way financially

Synonyms

• distressed
• hard-pressed
• in a bad way