In dire straits or need British American phrase
“Dire Straits” is originated from geography. A strait is a narrow body of water situated between two land masses which then connects two larger bodies of water. Therefore, some straits are too difficult to sail through because of the narrowness.
In a very bad situation that is difficult to fix
After her husband's death, she was in dire need.
If we lose the best player, our team will find itself in dire straits.
The fierce storm left the region in dire straits for a long time.
'In dire straits' is often used as an 'adjective phrase' in the sentence which goes after 'to be'.
According to Citrinitas, 'in dire straits' appears a lot in Bible. However, the earliest times that this phrase was used as the idiom is in Joseph Thomson’s work, “A Masai Adventure” in the chapter titled Good Words, 1800s:
“he answered with unusual humility, showing to what dire straits they had fallen.”
Suggest someone or oneself for consideration in a selection, such as a competition, application pool, election, etc.
Kamala Harris is expected to put her name on the hat for the US president.