苦境: dire straitsfixgrievancehard linesplightvexation
陷入苦境: tie oneself in [into] knots; be in distressing circumstances
一筹莫展: be nonplussed over sth.; at a loss what to do; be at one's wits' end; be at the end of one's tether; be driven to one's wits' end; be up a gum-tree [tree]; can find no way out; cannot do a
置身局外: keep aloof from; keep out of the business; stay [remain] aloof from the affair; refrain from getting involved; refuse to be drawn into the matter; fold one's arms