be hard pressed [British, American & Australian, informal, British]to be having difficulty doing something, especially because there is not enough time or money.
I'll be hard pressed to get this report done by Friday. (usually + to do something)
You'd be hard pushed to find a good car for under Ј1,000. With cuts in government funding, hospitals are hard pressed at the moment. [TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲