put to it, be

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.

See also: put

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]

See also: put