What does ‘in a pickle’ mean?
To “in a pickle” means to in a difficult situation. Brewer's records the phrase in English from the 16th century, with a related figurative use in Shakespeare's The Tempest.
Origin
- Brewer's records the phrase in English from the 16th century, with a related figurative use in Shakespeare's The Tempest.
How to use it
- Mild, older way to describe a jam.
- Example: I'm in a bit of a pickle — the car won't start.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.