With difficulty
With much ado
Hardly
Uphill

Against the stream
Against the grain
In the teeth of
In a pinch
At long odds

Behind the eightball
In the soup
In a spot
In deep

In a pickle
Floored
Up a tree
At bay

Driven into a corner
Driven from pillar to post
Driven to extremity
Driven to the wall
Out of one's depth
Thrown out

Perplexing
Uncertain (see DOUBT)
At the end of one's rope
Or tether

At ones wits' end
At a standstill
Stranded
Aground
Stuck fast

Unbelief
Skepticism
Green-eyed monster
Misgiving
Madness

Release

Decision
Resolve
Rediscovery
Pluck
Backbone

Courage
Energy
Devotion
New start

Deep breath

With difficulty
With much ado
Hardly
Uphill

Against the stream
Against the grain
And so forth
And so on

. . .

copyright 2001, Linford Detweiler