The phrase "desperate straits" means being in a difficult and dangerous situation or facing extreme hardship and need.
Sentences with «desperate straits»
Confucianism is in desperate straits as communism assails its ideas, destroys its observances, smashes family solidarity in the communes, and puts a premium on giving antireligious Marxist doctrine first place. (religion-online.org)
In desperate straits financially, and looking for a way to find more readers, they moved the journal to Chicago in 1891. (religion-online.org)
Parents in such desperate straits can wind up compromising their children's health, health officials say. (articles.chicagotribune.com)