dire

Related to dire: dire wolf, dire straits, voir dire

be in dire straits

To be in a very bleak or grim situation. All of those recent layoffs indicate that the company is in dire straits. I was in dire straits there for a while, but I'm feeling much better after my hospital stay.
See also: dire, strait

in dire straits

In a very bleak or grim situation. The recent nosedive in the stock market has left many companies in dire straits. I was in dire straits there for a while, but I'm feeling much better after my hospital stay.
See also: dire, strait
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

in dire straits

Fig. in a very serious, bad circumstance. We are nearly broke and need money for medicine. We are in dire straits.
See also: dire, strait
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

dire straits, in

In an awful situation, terrible circumstances. The adjective “dire,” which dates from the mid-1500s, is rarely heard today except in this cliché and one other phrase, dire necessity, which uses it more or less hyperbolically (as, for example, in Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s 1836 letter, “The dire necessity of having every window in the house open . . .”). In contrast, the cliché describes a genuine difficulty or danger, as in “The stock-market crash left him in dire straits financially.” Also the name of a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995.
See also: dire
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • be in dire straits
  • strait
  • dire straits, in
  • in dire straits
  • think inside the box
  • thinking inside the box
  • pawn
  • in pawn
  • in pop
  • in the cart
References in periodicals archive
Joye said judges he's spoken with in South Carolina are willing to consider trying a form of voir dire in their courtrooms if attorneys agree to it, and the decision is ultimately at the discretion of each judge.
Attorneys push for new voir dire process
A real professional, his track record is highly impressive and lengthy and with such a dedicated and accomplished musician in charge, the inevitable result is a premier Dire Straits tribute band.
Do the Walk of Life down to theatre; Money for Nothing - top Dire Straits tribute band - comes to Crewe Lyceum Theatre on June 22
I think the fact that so many people are now coming to see Dire Straits Experience shows that there is definitely an appetite.
We were looking for a break - we didn't know it would be permanent; BRINGING BACK TO LIFE THE MUSIC OF ONE OF THE MOST CREATIVE BANDS IN ROCK MUSIC, WE TALK TO CHRIS WHITE AHEAD OF HIS LIVERPOOL DATE WITH THE DIRE STRAITS EXPERIENCE
The breeds Schwartz has so far combined in creating her "dire wolves" are German Shepherds, Malamutes, English Mastiffs, Great Pyrenees, Anatolians and Irish Wolfhounds.
Extinct Dire Wolves Could Be Resurrected
Dire car chases, dire fights, dire villains (robber holds knife's blunt side to hostage's throat), dire plots (building society manager applies online for a loan to pay a drug debt, only to discover it takes three working days).
The Intercept-ugh
Picking a jury from a panel of 36 people is challenging enough, but how does this process change when the voir dire panel is increased three or four times in number?
Voir dire dynamics in large trials with large panels: Is more really merrier?
Dire lies southwest of the ancient desert trading outpost of Timbuktu and close to the town of Lere were nine soldiers were killed in an attack on Thursday claimed by the separatist rebel Coordination of Movements for Azawad (CMA).
Suspected rebels attack army in northern Malian tow
As one of the founding band members with Mark Knopfler, his brother David and drummer Pick Withers, Illsley played a major role in the development of the Dire Straits' sound.
John Illsley And His Band at St David's Hall, Cardiff; preview
The first wave of the Dire States tour featured author and infrastructure expert Dan McNichol traveling the country in a '49 Hudson that is as "old, rusty and energy defunct" as America's infrastructure to raise awareness to the issue.
CASE brings dire states tour to Washington DC for Infrastructure Week 2014
HLG CEO and managing director, Jose Antonio Lopez-Monis, said the contract with DIRE is of great significance to HLG.
HLG wins $395mn Jewel in the Creek deal in Dubai
Il a affirme que la conjoncture est difficile et qu'elle ne permet ni surencheres ni complaisance , et appele a opter pour la transparence et l'esprit de responsabilite et a dire toute la verite au peuple, en toute objectivite et franchise .
Houcine Abassi : Il faut dire toute la verite sur la situation du pays
Dire Straits tribute Money for Nothing is a must see for any Dire Straits fan.
Night of rock
Another mesmerising show of indifference that demonstrates what dire straits the music industry is in.
Nice as pie Cold turkey
Members of iconic rock band Dire Straits are back and vowing to take their music to new heights in this new incarnation.
Higher Straits
THE financial outlook of the National Health Service is "dire", a leading doctor has warned.
Top doc: NHS finances 'dire' HOT SPOTS HEALTH