in a bind
Cornered, no escape
To be in a bind is to be stuck in a difficult situation with no easy way out.
The phrase suggests being constrained or trapped by circumstances, obligations, or competing demands.
I'm in a bind—I promised to help both of them at the same time.
Someone might put you in a bind by making an unreasonable request you can't easily refuse, or you might find yourself in a bind through your own poor planning.
- tight spotDifficult position, few options
- tight cornerDifficult position, limited options
- corneredUnable to flee
- trappedUnable to escape
- boxed inConfined without options
backed into a corner · between a rock and a hard place · hemmed in · dilemma · helplessness · up against it · under the gun · stress · quicksand · jam · in a jam · tangled web · in hot water · obligation · impasse · predicament · deadlock · in a pickle
- predicamentspredicament, dilemma, pickle, pinch, plight
- povertypoverty line, poor, poverty rate, impoverished, generational poverty
- expressions about containmentboxed in, bottled up, hemmed in, penned in, locked in
- hardshipshardship, adversity, struggle, misfortune, difficulties
- pressureair pressure, blood pressure rise, blood pressure drop, barometric pressure, apply pressure
in a bindfree and clear
Owning without obligations attached
free as a bird · off the hook · in the clear · unencumbered · unconstrained
in a bindsitting pretty
In favorable circumstances
in good shape · smooth sailing · comfortable · at ease · home free
in a bindspoiled for choice
Having too many options
flexible · holding all the cards · calling the shots · in control
bound, bind, binder, binding, binds, bindings, unbinding, bookbinding, bindery