sticky wicket

American  

noun

1. Cricket. the area of ground around a wicket when it is tacky because of recent rain and therefore does not allow the ball to bounce well.

2. Chiefly British. a situation requiring delicate treatment; an awkward situation.

   In telling his wife that he has to be away for a month in Cannes, he'll be batting on a sticky wicket.

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sticky wicket British  

noun

1. a cricket pitch that is rapidly being dried by the sun after rain and is particularly conducive to spin

2. informal a difficult or awkward situation (esp in the phrase on a sticky wicket )

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Etymology

Origin of sticky wicket

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Now, this version must contend with the sticky wicket that Campari itself was not invented until 1860, but as the stated date of Pascal’s creation of the Negroni seems to float between 1855 and 1865, it’s possible.

From Seattle Times

Moreover, it’s not as if President Trump is alone in this sticky wicket.

From Washington Times

President Trump received a royal welcome from Queen Elizabeth II on Monday as he began a three-day visit to the United Kingdom, reviewing troops at Buckingham Palace and being feted at a glittering state banquet — aristocratic reprieves from trading insults with London’s mayor, bracing for leftist protests and grappling with the sticky wicket of “Brexit” on Tuesday.

From Washington Times

The SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, tweeted on Monday night that by edging towards a referendum, May had put the Scottish conservatives “on something of a sticky wicket”.

From The Guardian

The PM might not have guaranteed a second EU referendum, but her promise of a vote on one puts the Scottish Tories ‘vote for us for no more referendums on anything ever’ pitch on something of a sticky wicket.

From The Guardian