transitive. To involve in difficulties or (originally) sinfulness from which it is difficult to withdraw; to hamper; to entrap. Formerly often: †to…

Characterized by intense activity or danger; difficult or awkward to deal with. Of a position, place, or situation: difficult, uncomfortable, or…

transitive. To cause problems or difficulties for (a person, organization, etc.); to hamper, obstruct; (also) to perplex. Usually in passive…

to wind (oneself) a (bonny) pirn: to get into difficulty or become entangled. Obsolete.

figurative. transitive. To plunge or sink as if in a swamp or in water; to overwhelm with difficulties, or esp. by superior numbers, so as to render…

Of circumstances or events: to be unpleasant or difficult for (someone), to be unfair on.

To ‘catch’ or entangle in talk; to embarrass.

To place in difficulties, to bring to grief. Usually in past participle colloquial.

transitive. colloquial. To make a situation dangerous or difficult for. Cf. to hot up 3b at phrasal verbs. rare.

transitive. To make a situation difficult or uncomfortable for (a person). Cf. hot, adj. 9a. rare.