1 having a lot of problems, especially too much work, and too little time or money 处于困境的，处于强大压力下的﹙尤指工作太多，时间或钱太少﹚: Hard-pressed teachers want smaller classes and more time to plan lessons. 备受压力的教师希望班级人数更少，有更多安排课程的时间。

2 hard-pressed to do sth finding sth very difficult 很难﹙做某事﹚: You would be hard-pressed to find a better secretary. 找一位更好的秘书很难。