be under the cosh

To be contending with a difficult or stressful situation; to experience pressure or difficulty A "cosh" is a bludgeon. Primarily heard in UK. Local businesses have been increasingly under the cosh by the austerity measures imposed by the government after the economic crash. Manchester United has really been under the cosh in this second half. I don't think they've left their own side of the pitch more than a handful of times. I wish we could donate more, we're just under the cosh right now because of some big medical bills.