American & Australian, informal

to be in a difficult situation and unable to make progress.

The police are very much behind the eight ball - they've had no more leads on these burglaries.

• step up to the plate
• stew in own juice
• stew in own juices
• stew in your own juice
• stew in your own juices
• stick around
• stick by
• stick by someone
• stick by something
• stick head above the parapet
• stick in craw
• sticking point
• stick in gullet
• stick in mind
• stick-in-the-mud
• stick in throat
• stick in your craw
• stick in your gullet
• stick in your mind
• stick in your throat
• stick it out
• stick it to
• stick it to someone
• stick neck out
• stick nose into