Hard Pressed

Pronunciation: /hɑrd prɛst/

Definitions of hard pressed

adjective describes the state of being under pressure or in a difficult situation

Example Sentences

A1 I am hard pressed to choose between chocolate and vanilla ice cream.

A2 She was hard pressed to finish her homework before the deadline.

B1 The company is hard pressed to meet its quarterly sales targets.

B2 The team was hard pressed to come up with a solution to the problem.

C1 The government is hard pressed to address the growing concerns of the public.

C2 The CEO was hard pressed to make a decision that would satisfy all stakeholders.

Examples of hard pressed in a Sentence

formal The company was hard pressed to meet the deadline for the project.

informal I'm hard pressed to find a better deal than this one.

slang She's really hard pressed for cash right now.

figurative He was hard pressed to keep up with the demands of his new job.

Grammatical Forms of hard pressed

• past tense: hard pressed
• plural: hard pressed
• comparative: harder pressed
• superlative: hardest pressed
• present tense: hard press
• future tense: will be hard pressed
• perfect tense: have been hard pressed
• continuous tense: is hard pressing
• singular: hard pressed
• positive degree: hard pressed
• infinitive: to hard press
• gerund: hard pressing
• participle: hard pressed

Origin and Evolution of hard pressed

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old French

Story behind the word: The phrase 'hard pressed' originated from the Old French word 'presser', meaning to squeeze or put pressure on. It was later adapted into Middle English as 'hard pressen' with a similar meaning.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the phrase 'hard pressed' evolved to describe situations where someone is under extreme pressure or facing great difficulty. It has come to signify a sense of being overwhelmed or struggling to cope with challenges.