hard put

In a situation that is difficult to resolve.

Japanese Meaning

解決が難しい困難な状況 / 苦境に直面している状態

She was hard put to find an answer to the unexpected question.

彼女は予想外の質問に答えを見つけるのに苦慮していた。

Sense（1）

In a situation that is difficult to resolve.

I know what that word means, but would be hard put to define it.

harder put

（ comparative ）

hardest put

（ superlative ）