{"id":9622,"date":"2022-09-23T15:34:12","date_gmt":"2022-09-23T15:34:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=9622"},"modified":"2022-09-23T15:34:12","modified_gmt":"2022-09-23T15:34:12","slug":"sticky-wicket-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/sticky-wicket-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Sticky Wicket \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did your boss tell you the company\u2019s sales strategy is a sticky wicket<\/em><\/strong>? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The expression \u2018sticky wicket\u2019<\/em> means a challenging situation to navigate and overcome<\/u>. It\u2019s a metaphor to describe a difficult situation where you might not receive the expected outcome<\/u>. If something is a \u2018sticky wicket,<\/em>\u2019 you must tread carefully with your actions<\/u>, or you might experience an adverse effect on your efforts.<\/u><\/p>\n

A \u2018sticky wicket\u2019<\/em> can describe situations in life where you\u2019re \u2018walking a tightrope,\u2019 <\/em>and there\u2019s a chance that things could end badly. <\/u>It also describes conversations and situations where you must watch what you say to avoid offending someone else<\/u>.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\"We have a sticky wicket on our hands. Do we pay for the car repair or the electricity bill this month? Inflation is making our choices tough.\"<\/p>\n

\"Most Americans have problems managing their finances in this economy. It's a sticky wicket when you have to choose between paying for food or settling your credit card bill.\"<\/p>\n

\"This situation is a sticky wicket. So we go with the first supplier or the new one. It's challenging to decide on the right vendor for the business.\"<\/p>\n

\"I don't understand why this has to be a sticky wicket. It's a simple decision, you wither do or you don't. Stop playing around and make up your mind.\"<\/p>\n

\"Well, we have a sticky wicket here. Do we go to the cabin in the woods this weekend and have fun with the family? Or do we take them to the river and hang out with their friends?\"<\/p>\n

\"I'm afraid the doctors are dealing with a sticky wicket here. They have to triage the patients to decide which of them need urgent care and who can wait for assistance.\"<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression 'sticky wicket' originates from the sport of cricket. The wicket is the surface in the center of the cricket field. The soil comprising the wicket is compacted, allowing an adequate bounce in the cricket ball when 'bowled.'<\/p>\n

So, playing on a 'sticky wicket' means that the ground is saturated, affecting to bounce of the ball and making it more challenging for the batsmen to play their shot. The phrase's first appearance in print occurs in \"Bell's Life in London,\" published in July 1882, where it appears as follows.<\/p>\n

\"The ground... was suffering from the effects of recent rain, and once more, the Australians found themselves on a sticky wicket.\"<\/p>\n

The first use of the figurative meaning of the expression appears in the Jamaican newspaper 'The Gleaner' in April 1930, as follows.<\/p>\n

\"Your Excellency, Sir William Morrison, and gentlemen. I am afraid tonight, owing to the rain we have had in this island of Springs, I am batting on rather a sticky wicket.\"<\/p>\n