人生十有八九不如意，要么为柴米油盐酱醋茶而奔波劳碌，要么为雄心壮志而披荆斩棘，所以常常为之陷入困境，或不能自拔，或自暴自弃。但是生活就是这种状态，只有不安于现状的人，才能永远立于不败之地，即使遇到了棘手的问题或陷入了困境，也能迎刃而解。a knotty problem 棘手的问题：It is always a knotty problem to understand my boss’s handwriting.理解我老板的笔迹总是一个棘手的问题。The new Government is faced with a knotty problem to kick start the economy.新政府在启动经济方面面临一个棘手的问题。想到困境，首先要提及的是 trouble 以及它的很多搭配，它们中的很多所表达的意思都与”陷入困境“相关，例如：run into trouble，get in/into trouble，get sb out of trouble 和 in trouble 等等，例如：run into trouble:We are not prepared to write a blank cheque for companies that have run into trouble.我们不打算给那些陷入困境的公司开空白支票。get in/into trouble: I hope you won't get into trouble because of what I said to your dad.我希望你不会因为我对你爸爸说的话而惹上麻烦。in trouble:If I don't get this finished in time, I'll be in trouble .我如不按时把这完成就要倒霉了。help sb to get out trouble:How can I help him to get out of trouble?我怎样才能帮助他摆脱困境？get (sb) out of trouble: He's quite capable of lying to get out of trouble.靠撒谎渡过难关他挺有一套。Brian will get them out of trouble.布赖恩会帮助他们走出困境。
要表达使某人陷入困境，还可以用与 trouble 相关的短语 get sb into trouble 或 put sb to trouble 等，例如：
My brother was always getting me into trouble with my parents.以前我弟弟经常连累我遭父母的责难。I don't want to put you to a lot of trouble.我不想给你添很多的麻烦。
短语动词总是多才多艺，当然也少不了可以表达”陷入困境“的，如 catch sb out：Many investors were caught out by the fall in share prices.许多投资者由于股价下跌而突然陷入困境。A lot of people were caught out by the sudden change in the weather.天气的突然变化使许多人措手不及。当陷入困境的时候，不能坐以待毙，要时刻保持清醒的头脑，从容不迫地面对，才有可能重整旗鼓，才能摆脱困境。还可以用短语动词 help out 来表示“摆脱困境或使人摆脱困境” 等，例如： help sb out:When I bought the house, my sister helped me out with a loan.我买这所房子时，我姐姐借给了我一笔钱解了急。If you need money for the tip, I can help you out with a few dollars.如果你需要钱付小费，我可以给你几美元。在英语中表达”陷入困境“或类似意思的表达方式不计其数，常见的还有短语或习语如：in a dilemma，in deep water，in a (pretty) pickle 和 between a rock and a hard place 等等，例如：in a dilemma: I found myself in a dilemma and really didn't know what to do for the best.我发现自己进退两难，真的不知道该怎么做才好。in deep water:You certainly seem to be in deep water.你看起来无疑是陷入了困境。in a pickle: Can you help me? I’m in a bit of a pickle.你能帮助我吗？我遇到一点困难。(caught/stuck) between a rock and a hard place:I can't make up my mind whose side I am on; I'm caught between a rock and a hard place.我无法决定我站在谁的一边，我左右为难。表达“摆脱困境”还有一个很形象的习语 off the hook，其中 hook 意为”钩，挂钩“等，那么 off the hook 就是”脱离钩“，可以用来比喻摆脱困境，常用格式 get/let sb off the hook，例如：John's agreed to go to the meeting in my place so that gets/lets me off the hook.约翰同意代替我去开会，这样我就不必担心了。He was charged with leaking confidential information, but I got him off the hook by vouching for his integrity.他被指控泄露机密信息，但我为他的正直作了担保，使他摆脱了困境。Though we are letting you off the hook this time, you’d better be careful, you won’t be so lucky next time.虽然这次我们让你摆脱困境了，但你最好小心点，下次你就不会这么幸运了。是否能摆脱困境取决于面对困境时所采取的态度。若积极面对，则更有可能摆脱困境，否则只会越陷越深。词或词组辨析：1. confidential [ˌkɒnfɪˈdenʃl]，意为”机密的，保密的“等2. vouch [vaʊtʃ] 意为”证实，担保，保证“等
