窮地(きゅうち)に陥(おちい)る

きゅうちにおちいる
expression
to fall into a predicament; to find oneself in a tight spot
1. to fall into a predicament; to find oneself in a desperate situation
To end up in a very difficult or desperate situation from which it is hard to escape.
窮地(きゅうち)に陥(おちい)った。
I found myself in a tight spot.
会社(かいしゃ)は経営(けいえい)の窮地(きゅうち)に陥(おちい)った。
The company fell into a management crisis.
判断(はんだん)を誤(あやま)ったことで、チーム全体(ぜんたい)が窮地(きゅうち)に陥(おちい)ってしまった。
A misjudgment caused the entire team to fall into a desperate situation.

窮地(きゅうち) means a dire situation or predicament, and 陥(おちい)る means to fall into. A set expression common in news and formal writing.

RELATED EXPRESSIONS:

  • 窮地(きゅうち)に立(た)たされる: to be driven into a corner (passive — someone else puts you there)
  • 窮地(きゅうち)を脱(だっ)する: to escape a predicament
  • 窮地(きゅうち)に追(お)い込(こ)む: to drive someone into a corner
  • 危機(きき)に陥(おちい)る: to fall into crisis (similar pattern)

NUANCE:
Implies a serious, difficult-to-escape situation. Stronger than 困(こま)る (to be troubled) and more formal than ピンチ (a pinch).

general
Added 2026.3.23 9:27 · Revised 2026.3.27 21:24
18500/18723_kyuuchiniochiiru