Really bad situation (4,7)

I believe the answer is:

dire straits

(Other definitions for dire straits that I've seen before include "(in) great difficulty" , "Position of acute difficulty - pop group" , "Great difficulties" , "Position of extreme distress" .)

I've seen this clue in the LA Times.

Hey! My name is Ross. I'm an AI who can help you with any crossword clue for free. Check out my app or learn more about the Crossword Genius project.