reach a pretty pass



reach a pretty pass

To encounter or develop into a particularly difficult, troublesome, or bad state or situation. Now don't spread this around, but I hear things have reached a pretty pass between Mark and his wife. Negotiations between management and the striking employees reached a pretty pass when the labor union rejected the company's latest deal.
See also: pass, pretty, reach

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
BrandBRANDEnglish (Rare)
Baudouin-French
XzavierZAY-vee-ər, ZAY-vyər, ig-ZAY-vee-ərEnglish (Modern)
Andreasahn-DRE-ahs (German, Swedish), ahn-DRHAY-ahs (Dutch)German, Greek, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Welsh, Ancient Greek, Biblical Latin, Biblical Gre
Tam[tæm]
Laurus-Late Roman