distress
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in distress
To be in a difficult, unpleasant situation in which you are under pressure and have hardly any room to maneuver. It can refer to financial, emotional, or other emergencies.
Durch die unerwarteten Ausgaben geriet die Familie in finanzielle Bedrängnis.
Because of the unexpected expenses, the family got into financial distress.
The noun is derived from the verb 'bedrängen' (to pressure someone), which means 'jemanden unter Druck setzen' (to put someone under pressure). 'Bedrängnis' (distress) therefore describes the state you are in when you are under strong pressure.
Die kleine Firma spürte die Bedrängnis durch die große Konkurrenz.
The small company felt the distress caused by the large competitors.
This word is almost always used in the fixed expression 'in Bedrängnis' (in distress). Important verbs used with it are 'geraten' (to get into), 'kommen' (to come/get into), 'sein' (to be), or jemanden 'bringen' (to put someone into).
Durch die plötzliche Kündigung geriet er in finanzielle Bedrängnis.
Because of the sudden dismissal, he got into financial distress.
To specify the kind of difficult situation, the expression is often combined with adjectives. Common phrases are 'in finanzielle Bedrängnis' (into financial distress), 'in arge Bedrängnis' (into serious distress), or 'in große Bedrängnis' (into great distress).
Die Mannschaft kam gegen Ende des Spiels in arge Bedrängnis.
Toward the end of the game, the team came under serious pressure.
emergency situation
Notlage mainly refers to a specific difficult situation in which urgent help is needed. Bedrängnis can also describe a difficult situation, but it places more emphasis on pressure and the lack of room to act, and often sounds more formal. Use Notlage for the situation and Bedrängnis for the experience of being under pressure.
Nach dem Brand geriet die Familie in Bedrängnis, weil sie keine Unterkunft fand.
After the fire, the family was in distress because they could not find anywhere to stay.
Nach dem Brand ist die Familie in einer Notlage und braucht dringend Hilfe.
After the fire, the family is in an emergency situation and urgently needs help.
