Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

sticky-wicket

idiomatic expression

/ˈstɪki ˈwɪkɪt/

Definition

A difficult or tricky situation.

Examples

When the project deadlines shifted unexpectedly, it put us in a bit of a sticky-wicket.
She found herself in a sticky-wicket when she forgot to send the important email.
Negotiating with the opposing team in such a contentious environment was a sticky-wicket.

Meaning

The term ‘sticky-wicket’ originated in cricket, where it refers to a moist, difficult pitch that makes batting challenging. It is now commonly used to describe any complicated or awkward scenario.