sticky wicket


noun

Cricket. the area of ground around a wicket when it is tacky because of recent rain and therefore does not allow the ball to bounce well.
Chiefly British. a situation requiring delicate treatment; an awkward situation: In telling his wife that he has to be away for a month in Cannes, he'll be batting on a sticky wicket.

Origin of sticky wicket

First recorded in 1925–30

British Dictionary definitions for sticky wicket

sticky wicket

noun

a cricket pitch that is rapidly being dried by the sun after rain and is particularly conducive to spin
informal a difficult or awkward situation (esp in the phrase on a sticky wicket)