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aprieto

tight spot

noun ah-PRYEH-toh Rare
Mind & Emotions Mental States

Also means

predicament

Usage Note

Aprieto is used almost exclusively in the set phrase estar en un aprieto or poner en un aprieto (to put someone in a tight spot). It conveys a difficult or embarrassing situation from which it is hard to escape. The synonymous apuro is more common in everyday speech. Aprieto also exists as a first-person present form of apretar (to squeeze/press), but as a standalone noun it is fixed in this idiomatic usage.

Examples

"Ese comentario me puso en un aprieto."

Natural Translation

That comment put me in a tight spot.

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