The term "dire straits" which means desperate circumstances has no particular origin. It is just one of those phrases which people adopted as a cliche to describe a particular thing.
It is spelled strait - it has no relation to straight. A strait is a difficult circumstance.
The word, dire, comes from the Latin word, dirus, which has a meaning close to terrifying. The word, strait, is a derivation of the word, straight, and originally had a similar meaning - tight and/or narrow. In the 14th century, it's meaning became more specified to mean narrow waterway.
A literal translation for dire straits, then, would be terrifying narrow (or tight) waterway. A very nice metaphor for what we understand this phrase to mean.
The term is etymology.
I understood the term to be rhyming slang for 'For Free', origin un-known. I understood the term to be rhyming slang for 'For Free', origin un-known. See related link for answer.
Check out the story "Coventry" by Robert Heinlein.
Carl is of Germanic origin, and it was a term for a free man (not a slave or peasant) who was not of noble birth.
The term tuxedo comes from tuxedo park, ny, where a dinner coat without tails was popularized in 1896.
Dire straits
Dire Straits
You will be in dire straits if you do not learn your vocabulary words.
Why Worry - Dire Straits song - was created in 1984-11.
The term is actually dire straits. A strait is a narrow passage that a ship would travel passing from the sea to a harbor. Dire meant dangerous. The original dire strait would be a channel that would wreck your ship unless you followed exactly the right course. A person that is "in dire straits" would be in a situation where there could be a bad outcome unless they follow exactly the right course of action.
Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits album - was created in 1984-11.
Michael Oldfield has written: 'Dire Straits' -- subject(s): Dire Straits (Musical group)
Tunnel of Love - Dire Straits song - was created on 1980-08-25.
Love over Gold - Dire Straits song - was created in 1984.
The etyomology of the phrase "dire straits" is believed to have been started in the 15th century from the many straits around the world that sailors needed to navigate their vessels through. It took experience and a steady hand to make safe passage through the straits. Often the attempt would be difficult and perilous and could lead to a shipwreck. Eventually any difficult or perilous situation could be referred to as being in "dire straits". -Mr. Mark Frees professor of naval history
David Knopfler and Pick Withers left Dire Straits to branch out on their own.
Dire Straits On the Night - 1993 V is rated/received certificates of: Australia:G