pickle

a rod in pickle

obsolete A punishment or retaliation kept in store for future use. The prime minister insisted that Britain had a rod in pickle for any nation that dared encroach upon its sovereign borders in force.
See also: pickle, rod

be in a pickle

slang To be in a troublesome situation. The adjectives "pretty" and "right" are commonly used before "pickle." Boy, am I in a pickle—I accidentally made plans with two different men tonight! We're in a pretty pickle now because the hotel gave our room away!
See also: pickle

in a fix

In a troublesome situation. Boy, I'm really in a fix—I accidentally made plans with two different men tonight! We're in a fix now because the hotel gave our room away!
See also: fix

in a pickle

In a troublesome or difficult situation. The adjectives "pretty" and "right" are commonly used before "pickle." Boy, am I in a pickle—I accidentally made plans to meet with two different clients today. We're in a pretty pickle now because the hotel gave our room away.
See also: pickle

in a pretty pickle

In a troublesome or difficult situation. Boy, am I in a pretty pickle—I accidentally made plans to meet with two different clients today. We're in a pretty pickle now because the hotel gave our room away.
See also: pickle, pretty

picklepuss

1. An exaggerated frown, scowl, or sullen expression (as if reacting to the briny flavor of pickle juice). What's with the picklepuss? We're on vacation—lighten up! The president's famous picklepuss appeared the moment the British Prime Minister began talking about the proposed trade agreement during the conference.
2. Someone who wears such an expression frequently or constantly. We threw a surprise birthday party for Bill, but the picklepuss didn't even smile. Don't be such a picklepuss, darling. We're at a party, so stop worrying about work and try to enjoy yourself.

play hide the pickle

vulgar slang To engage in sexual intercourse. "Pickle" is a vulgar slang term for a penis. "Hide the pickle" is sometimes hyphenated. A: "So, did you two play hide the pickle last night?" B: "Hey, that's a very personal question!" They made out on the dance floor for a while before going back to her dorm room to play a little hide-the-pickle.
See also: hide, pickle, play

pretty pickle

A particularly troublesome or difficult predicament. Boy, am I in a pretty pickle—I accidentally made plans to meet with two different clients at the same time today. Don't worry, I've been in prettier pickles than this. Well, this is a pretty pickle, isn't it? What can we do to get out of it?
See also: pickle, pretty
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*in a fix

Fig. in a bad situation. (*Typically: be ~; get [into] ~.) I really got myself into a fix. I owe a lot of money on my taxes. John is in a fix because he lost his wallet. John got into a fix.
See also: fix

*in a (pretty) pickle

Fig. in a mess; in trouble. (*Typically: be ~; get [into] ~.) John has gotten himself into a pickle. He has two dates for the party. Now we are in a pretty pickle. We are out of gas.
See also: pickle

pretty pickle

Fig. a difficult situation. (Pickle = a bad situation.) Well, this is a pretty pickle you've gotten us into.
See also: pickle, pretty
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

in a fix

Also, in a pickle or spot . In a difficult or embarrassing situation, in a dilemma. For example, I was really in a fix when I missed the plane, or Lost and out of gas-how did we get in such a pickle? or John had lost all his money in the crap game-now he was in a spot. The first of these colloquial usages dates from the early 1800s; pickle in the sense of a mess or quandary, sometimes put as in a pretty pickle, dates from the 1500s; spot, also put as in a bad spot or tough spot , dates from the early 1900s. Also see in a bind; in deep, def. 2; in the soup; in trouble; on the spot.
See also: fix
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

in a fix

INFORMAL
If someone is in a fix, they are in a difficult or dangerous situation. He kept turning to me whenever he was in a fix and of course I'd help him out. The government is in a fix over access to the countryside.
See also: fix
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a rod in pickle

a punishment in store.
In pickle means ‘preserved ready for future use’. This form, which dates from the mid 17th century, has superseded an earlier mid 16th-century variant a rod in piss .
See also: pickle, rod
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

in a (real, right, etc.) ˈpickle

(informal) in a difficult situation; in a mess: Things are in a real pickle at the moment, I’m afraid. My assistant’s left and I’m completely lost without him! Can you help me? I’m in a bit of a pickle.
See also: pickle
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

picklepuss

n. a person who has a puckered up mouth; a child who is about to cry. She is such a picklepuss. Nothing seems to please her.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

in a pickle, to be/get

In a bad situation; in trouble. Although it sounds very up to date, this expression dates from Shakespeare’s time. “How camest thou in this pickle?” says Alonso to his fellow-conspirator (The Tempest, 5.1). The term has been so used ever since.
See also: get
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • a rod in pickle
  • rod
  • be in a pickle
  • in a pickle, to be/get
  • in a pickle
  • play hide the pickle
  • pretty pickle
  • get off with (something)
  • kiss the rod
  • in a pretty pickle
References in periodicals archive
All you really need to make fermented pickles is water, salt, and cucumbers.
PLEASING Pickles: Embrace the art of fermentation with these easy-to-make pickles, adding a satisfying crunch to cold-weather snacks
The Elmhurst Pickle Ball Club is one of the main promoters of the sport in town.
Pickle ball courts are coming to Elmhurst
More generally, Grillo's Pickles is pacing more than $25 million in sales for 2019 and has emerged as a leader in the refrigerated pickle category.
Turning a typical pickle jar on its side in IML container
"Chicken pickle takes two months to prepare, fish takes one and half months and vegetable pickles take almost one month.
Kashmiri pickles see surge in demand during Ramzan
Now, few young Andhra women know how to make this pickle and with expatriate Andhra families, the pickling tradition is confined to carrying the precious cargo from back home, made by grandma or mum or an aunt.
The art of making spicy Andhra pickle
The raiding team also witnessed stinky environment, poor storage system and the thick layers of fungus in the blue drums in which pickle has been preserved.
PFA shuts down two pickle factories
The raiding team also witnessed stinky environment, poor storage system and thick layers of fungus in blue drums in which pickle had been preserved.
PFA seals two pickle factories over adulteration
Upon search, unhealthy pickle weighing 50,000 kg and other raw material was seized.
PFA seizes 50,000kg unhealthy pickle
Pair the Pickle Pipes with the glass Pickle Pebbles, which will ensure your veggies stay below the surface of the brine, and the Pickle Packer, which will aid you in packing vegetables into jars, and you'll be ready to get started.
Canning Jar Fermentation Kit
"Pickle -- A cucumber preserved in vinegar, brine, or similar solution, and excluding all other pickled vegetables," officials at the agency wrote into the state's administrative code in 2014.
"Somebody had to push": One couple's fight to change how Texas defines a pickle
"Pickle and Kiwi are half-brothers, but they're totally different.
'Pickle and Kiwi are half-brothers but so different' YOUR PETS
LAHORE:The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Saturday sealed a pickle factory and two food processing units during separate actions in various cities on Saturday.The PFA team on a tip-off raided a pickle factory in Multan.
PFA seals pickle factory, food processing units over substandard production
Place some of the small white pebbles at the bottom of the pickle jar to weigh it down.
An underwater terrarium centerpiece
But going from stall to stall, The Post soon found itself in a pickle trying to delve deeper into the history and place within Khmer cuisine of preserving foods in vinegar or brine.
In pursuit of Phnom Penh's perfect pickle
"Rick and Morty" Season 3, episode 3, titled "Pickle Rick," will see Rick (Justin Roiland) turning into a pickle.
Ricks Turns Into A Pickle In 'Rick and Morty' Season 3