adverse circumstances adversity affliction aggravation annoyance baffle bafflement bearings bewilderment bind blight blood bother box bracket branch breakers ahead bummer cardhouse care case case of need caste category cause for alarm circumstance clan class clutch complication condition confoundment confusion corner crisis cross crunch curse danger dangerous ground deep water difficulties difficulty dilemma dire necessity discomposure disconcert disconcertedness disconcertion disconcertment disturbance division downer embarrassing position embarrassment emergency endangerment enigma estate exigence exigency fine how-do-you-do fix footing gaping chasm gathering clouds grade group grouping hard knocks hard life hard lot hardcase hardship hazard head heading hell to pay hobble hole hot hot water house of cards how-do-you-do imbroglio immediacy impasse imperative imperativeness imperilment in a bind irritation jam jeopardy kin label level location lot matter of necessity menace mess mix modality mode morass mystery nonplus order parlous straits pass peril perplexity perturbation pickle pigeonhole pinch place plight position posture pother pressingness pressure pretty pass pretty pickle pretty predicament problem puzzle puzzlement quagmire quandary quicksand race rank rating riddle rigor risk rocks ahead rubric scrape sea of troubles section sept set situation slough spot squeeze standing state station status stew sticky wicket storm clouds strain strait straits stratum stress stress of life subdivision subgroup suborder swamp thin ice threat tight spot tight squeeze tightrope title trial tribulation tricky spot trouble troubles unassuredness unholy mess upset urgency urgent need vale of tears vicissitude