1. (n.) A complex disagreement; a serious misunderstanding; an entanglement\.

2. (n.) An intricate, complicated plot, as of a drama or work of fiction.

altercation argument bicker bickering bind blood feud brawl broil clutch complication contention controversy crunch dispute donnybrook donnybrook fair embarrassing position embarrassment embroilment falling-out feud fight fine how-do-you-do fliting fracas fuss hell to pay hobble hot water how-do-you-do jam logomachy mess miff mix morass open quarrel parlous straits pass pickle pinch plight polemic predicament pretty pass pretty pickle pretty predicament quagmire quarrel quicksand row scrape sharp words slanging match slough snarl spat spot squabble squeeze stew sticky wicket strait straits strife swamp tiff tight spot tight squeeze tightrope tricky spot tussle unholy mess vendetta words wrangle