be put to it
be put to it
To be under strain, stress, or difficulty. Our entire team has been put to it to finish the project before the Christmas deadline. I need a vacation—I'm really put to it lately.
See also: put
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
put to it
strained or exhausted. Man, I'm really put to it! What a day! John was put to it to get there on time.
See also: put
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
put to it, be
Be confronted with a severe difficulty, as in I was put to it to finish this book on time. This usage is derived from the active sense of put to it, that is, "force or challenge someone to something." [c. 1600]
See also: put
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
put to it
mod. in trouble or difficulty; hard up (for something such as money). (As if one’s back were put to the wall.) Sorry, I can’t lend you anything. I’m a bit put to it this month.
See also: put
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
put to it
To cause extreme difficulty for: We were put to it to finish the book on time.
See also: put
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- put to it
- put to it, be
- strain
- stress out
- stressed out
- come up against
- come up against (something)
- heaping Pelion upon Ossa
- fish in troubled waters
- faint