put (someone/something) in a hole

to cause a difficult situation for someone or something.

Whitson gave up home runs to Palmeiro and Bonilla that put Cleveland in a hole.

I campaigned against two opponents from this state, and I think it put me in a hole.

Related vocabulary: in a tight spot, in a bind

• feed someone a line
• feed someone to the lions
• not have a bone in your body
• not have a care in the world
• not have a cat in hell's chance
• not have a chance in hell
• not have a clue
• not have a dog's chance
• not have a hope in hell
• not have a leg to stand on
• not have a minute to call own
• not have a minute to call your own
• not have a monopoly on
• not have a monopoly on something
• not have a pot to piss in
• not have a prayer
• not have a snowball's chance in hell
• not have a type of bone in body
• not have a type of bone in your body
• not have much going for
• not have much going for you
• not have much time
• not have much time someone
• not have much time something
• not have the faintest