dire straits

NOUN
12 LETTERS · STARTS WITH D

dire straits is a valid 12-letter word worth 12 points in Scrabble and 12 points in Words with Friends.

SCRABBLE WORDS WITH FRIENDS
D2I1R1E1S1T1R1A1I1T1S1
2 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 =12 PTS
DOUBLE WORD → 24TRIPLE WORD → 36
MEANING

What does dire straits mean?

NOUN · 1 SENSE
1

A state of extreme distress.