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
Adrianaahd-RYAH-nah (Italian, Spanish, Polish), ayd-ree-AN-ə (English)Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, English
Radzimierzrah-JEEM-yeshPolish (Rare)
NaoiseNEE-shaIrish, Scottish, Irish Mythology
Ippolit-Russian
Georginezhor-ZHEENFrench
ZİYaeddİN-Turkish