wicket

Related to wicket: cricket, sticky wicket, wicket gate

a sticky wicket

A particularly awkward or difficult situation or circumstance. (Generally used with on. Refers to the pitch, i.e., wicket, used in the game of cricket and the difficulty of playing on one after it has been wetted with rain.) Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I found myself on a bit of a sticky wicket when the boss saw me kissing his daughter at the cinema. I'll be batting on a sticky wicket if I arrive at the train station and don't have enough money for the tickets!
See also: sticky, wicket

batting on a sticky wicket

In the midst of or dealing with a particularly awkward or difficult situation or circumstance. Refers to the pitch, called a "wicket," used in the game of cricket and the difficulty of playing on one after it has been wetted with rain. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I found myself batting on a sticky wicket when the boss saw me kissing his daughter at the cinema. I'll be batting on a sticky wicket if I arrive at the train station and don't have enough money for the tickets!
See also: batting, on, sticky, wicket

be (batting) on a losing wicket

To be in a situation in which one is unlikely or unable to win; to be doing something that is likely or certain to fail. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Teachers who try to keep mobile phones out of their classrooms are on a losing wicket these days. The prime minister, knowing his party has been batting on a losing wicket regarding immigration reform, today announced a major U-turn in his position on the matter.
See also: losing, on, wicket

be (batting) on a sticky wicket

To be in the midst of or dealing with a particularly awkward or difficult situation or circumstance. Primarily heard in UK. I knew I was batting on a sticky wicket when the boss saw me kissing his daughter at the cinema. I'll be on quite a sticky wicket if I arrive at the train station and don't have enough money for the tickets!
See also: on, sticky, wicket

on a losing wicket

In a situation in which one is unlikely or unable to win; doing something that is likely or certain to fail. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Teachers who try to keep mobile phones out of their classrooms are on a losing wicket these days. The prime minister, knowing his party has been batting on a losing wicket regarding immigration reform, today announced a major U-turn in his position on the matter.
See also: losing, on, wicket

on a sticky wicket

In the midst of or dealing with a particularly awkward or difficult situation or circumstance. (Refers to the pitch, called a "wicket," used in the game of cricket and the difficulty of playing on one after it has been wetted with rain.) Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I found myself on a bit of a sticky wicket when the boss saw me kissing his daughter at the cinema. I'll be batting on a sticky wicket if I arrive at the train station and don't have enough money for the tickets!
See also: on, sticky, wicket
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

on a sticky wicket

BRITISH, INFORMAL
If someone is on a sticky wicket, they are in a difficult situation and will find it hard to deal with their problems. It seemed to me that we were on rather a sticky wicket. We couldn't admit that we had got the figures without causing a major row to break out. Note: You can call a difficult situation a sticky wicket. The Tottenham manager confessed it had been `a bit of a sticky wicket' for the past couple of weeks. Note: On a cricket pitch, the wicket is the area of grass between the two sets of stumps. When a lot of rain has fallen on the wicket it becomes soft or `sticky', and in these conditions, it is difficult for the batsmen to predict which way the ball will bounce.
See also: on, sticky, wicket
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a sticky wicket

1 a pitch that has been drying out after rain and is therefore difficult to bat on. Cricket 2 a tricky or awkward situation. informal
See also: sticky, wicket
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

(be on) a ˌsticky ˈwicket

(British English, informal) a situation in which it is difficult to defend yourself against criticism or attack: Don’t be too confident about getting the contract. After our problems with the last one we’re on a sticky wicket there.
In the game of cricket, a sticky wicket is a playing area that is drying out after rain and so is more difficult for the person hitting the ball to play on.
See also: sticky, wicket
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

sticky wicket, (to bat on) a

To deal with a difficult situation that requires good judgment. The term comes from cricket, where it refers to soft or muddy ground around a wicket, which makes it difficult for the batsman because the ball does not bounce well. Although cricket is not well known in America, the term did cross the Atlantic in the 1920s. The National News-Letter used it in 1952, “Mr. Churchill was batting on a very sticky wicket in Washington.”
See also: bat, sticky
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • a sticky wicket
  • on a sticky wicket
  • a sticky situation
  • be (batting) on a sticky wicket
  • in a sticky situation
  • be in a sticky situation
  • batting on a sticky wicket
  • murky
  • murky waters
  • murky/uncharted waters
References in classic literature
"I dare say now I've lost the match by this nonsense," he says, as he sits down again; "they'll be sure to get Jack's wicket in three or four minutes; however, you'll have the chance, sir, of seeing a hard hit or two," adds he, smiling, and turning to the master.
Meantime Jack Raggles, with his sleeves tucked up above his great brown elbows, scorning pads and gloves, has presented himself at the wicket; and having run one for a forward drive of Johnson's, is about to receive his first ball.
It is over now, and Jack walks swaggering about his wicket, with his bat over his shoulder, while Mr.
So they leave the island and go to the tent; and after deep consultation, Arthur is sent in, and goes off to the wicket with a last exhortation from Tom to play steady and keep his bat straight.
The Wellesburn match was played out with great success yesterday, the School winning by three wickets; and to-day the great event of the cricketing year, the Marylebone match, is being played.
Nine runs to make, and two wickets to go down: it is too much for human nerves.
Tom Browns Schooldays
The satellite removed his arm and opened the wicket, and Mr Julius Handford went out.
Our Mutual Friend
Antonio Morris had carved out 25 in a 42-run, fourth wicket partnership with Demetrius Richards (17) which pulled Barbados around from 17 for three in the sixth over.
CRICKET-U19-LEAD Barbados, Windwards still unbeaten as T and T lose
Abu Jayed grabbed four wickets giving just 28 runs as Afghanistan were bowled out for 122 inside 33 overs.
Bangladesh A bounce back
Mir took Andrie Steyn's wicket in the 23rd over the match, the 117th match of her career as South Africa chased down the 148-run target in 36.4 overs for the loss of two wickets.
Sana Mir equals ODI record for most wickets by a spinner as SA bags game
Umaima Sohail was the other successful Pakistan bowler besides Mir as she took one wicket for 24 runs in five overs.
Mir equals record for most wickets by a spinner in ODIs
For Pakhtun Zalmi Abdullah grabbed three wickets, Asif took two wickets, Asad Khan and Asad Afridi got one wicket each.
Bravo Swabi Premier League- Pakhtun Zalmi, Travcont Bachagan advance in Bravo Swabi Prelier League
It was a typical one-day wicket and suited batsmen,' he said of Sharjah strip where Haris Sohail also hit his maiden one-day century in Pakistan's total of 280 for five.
Mohammad Abbas feels honoured at one-day debut
Zulifqar Babar from Multan Region took two wickets and Bilawal Bhatti took one wicket.
Islamabad Region qualifies for semi final
MULTAN -- Lahore Region white wont he National T20 cricket cup match against Peshawar regions by nine wickets.Lahore Region white won the toss and decided to field first.
Lahore White wins National T20