Definiton: In a bad situation; in trouble.

Example:

1> Professor Freiburger was really in a bind after he was captured by the hostile natives.

2> Ted was in a bind after Jane decided to move out of their apartment.

Etymology: 'Bind' means 'to tie' or 'to secure'. The phrase 'in a bind' comes from lumberjacks (men who cut down trees). When a saw gets stuck or caught in a tree, it is 'in a bind', or trapped in the wood.

Synonyms: in a jam