hard-pressed
UK/'hɑ:dprest/US/ˌhɑ:dˈprest/
Definitions
adj.
Facing serious difficulty or pressure; barely able to cope
处境艰难的；压力很大的
adj.
Finding it hard to do something (hard-pressed to do)
很难做到（hard-pressed to do）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedhardroot
+
pressedpress, squeeze
=hard-pressed
hard + pressed. Pressed hard — squeezed by demands or trouble. Note the common idiom 'hard-pressed to (do something),' meaning it would be difficult to do it.
Usage Guide
Most idiomatic in the pattern be hard-pressed to + verb, meaning 'would find it very difficult to': You'd be hard-pressed to name a single mistake. In this use it does not mean physically pushed at all — it is purely figurative.
Example Sentences
- 1.
Families are hard-pressed to pay rising bills.
- 2.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a better deal.
- 3.
The hard-pressed defense held on until the final whistle.