be put to it
To be under strain, stress, or difficulty. Our entire team has been put to it to finish the project before the Christmas deadline. I need a vacation—I'm really put to it lately. I've been put to it working on this audit, so I'm going on and taking a bubble bath!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
put to it
strained or exhausted. Man, I'm really put to it! What a day! John was put to it to get there on time.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
put to it, be
Be confronted with a severe difficulty, as in I was put to it to finish this book on time. This usage is derived from the active sense of put to it, that is, "force or challenge someone to something." [c. 1600]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
put to it
mod. in trouble or difficulty; hard up (for something such as money). (As if one’s back were put to the wall.) Sorry, I can’t lend you anything. I’m a bit put to it this month.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
put to it
To cause extreme difficulty for: We were put to it to finish the book on time.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.