In a pickle
To be in a pickle means to be in an awkward or difficult situation, often one that needs a quick solution; the phrase appears in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, where it carries a joke about drunkenness.
Where it comes from
The phrase in Shakespeare
The phrase appears in The Tempest when Alonso questions Trinculo about his condition. The exchange links being in trouble with being soaked in alcohol, like food preserved in brine.
Near the end of The Tempest, Trinculo faces Alonso after drinking with Stephano and joining the plot against Prospero. Alonso questions his sorry condition, and Trinculo responds with a joke about his drinking.
In The Tempest by William Shakespeare
What it means now
Today the phrase usually means being stuck with an awkward problem, without any suggestion of drinking. Its light, informal tone suits everyday trouble better than a tragedy.
In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Tom faces the unwelcome task of whitewashing a fence while other boys are free to play. His predicament fits the modern meaning, before he persuades the others to do the work.
In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
How to use In a pickle
- Use it for an awkward problem that needs sorting out.
- Keep it for informal conversation or light writing.
- Choose plainer, more serious words for danger or grief.
Does being in a pickle mean being drunk?
Usually, no: it means being in a difficult situation. In The Tempest, the exchange also jokes about Trinculo’s drunken condition. That connection helps explain the passage, but it is not normally part of the phrase’s meaning today.
Is “in a pickle” suitable for serious problems?
It is usually better for smaller or less serious problems because it sounds light and informal. A missed bus or a forgotten key might leave someone in a pickle. For illness, bereavement, or real danger, more direct language is usually kinder and clearer.
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