What does dire straits mean in French?
If you want to express the idea of “extreme peril” in French, dire straits is the perfect choice. The phrase dire straits is a direct translation of the English expression “in deep water.” It refers to a situation in which a ship or a boat is under great pressure and is at risk of capsizing.
What does the phrase dire straits mean in French?
As the phrase suggests, the situation of having no money at all, or very little of it, is what dire straits means in French. This is a rather extreme situation, and one that is very difficult to find yourself in. It means being in an urgent financial situation. The only thing worse than being in dire straits is to have no way out of those financial situations.
What do the words dire straits mean in French?
If you want to express that you find someone’s financial situation to be very bad, you will use the French expression “être en détresse” (to be in a state of distress), which is the same as the English expression “to be in a bind”. It’s also possible to say “être dans le rouge” (to be in debt), but this is a different situation from being in a state of
What does dire straits mean in French slang?
Dire straits is a colloquialism that refers to a very bad situation. Its origin dates back to the late 1700s when sailors used it to describe the tightest quarters aboard a ship. Since then, the expression has been used to describe any dangerous or difficult situation.
What is dire straits mean in English?
Dire straits means serious trouble. The phrase is a figurative term and dates back to the 17th century when sailors would use the phrase to describe a dangerous situation at sea. If the situation was so dangerous that the crew could not turn back or sail away from it, they were said to be in ‘dire straits’.