under the pump
The idiom "under the pump" is commonly used in Australian, New Zealand, and South African English to describe situations of intense pressure or stress.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
C1General
(informal, regional)Experiencing intense pressure or stress, often due to a heavy workload or tight deadlines.
Example
- With the project deadline approaching, the entire team is under the pump to deliver on time.
- The coach was under the pump to turn the team's performance around after a series of losses.
C1Interrogation
(informal, regional)Being intensely questioned or scrutinized, often in a confrontational manner.
Example
- During the meeting, the manager was under the pump to explain the recent drop in sales.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "under the pump":
under the gunpump outunder firepump upon the ropeson the boilhard outhard up