bind, clutch, complication, crunch, embarrassing position, embarrassment, fine how-do-you-do, hobble, hot water, how-do-you-do, imbroglio, jam, mess, mix, morass, parlous straits, pass, pickle, pinch, plight, predicament, pretty pass, pretty pickle, pretty predicament, quagmire, quicksand, scrape, slough, spot, squeeze, stew, sticky wicket, strait, straits, swamp, tight spot, tight squeeze, tightrope, tricky spot, unholy mess