Use the word straits when you're talking about a truly difficult situation. When you don't have enough money to pay your rent, you're in pretty bad financial straits.
Noun
a difficult juncture; "a pretty pass"; "matters came to a head yesterday"
Noun
a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs
pl.
of Strait
Usage Examples
Courage enlarges, cowardice diminishes resources. In desperate straits the fears of the timid aggravate the dangers that imperil the brave.
Misspelled FormStraits, Straits, traits, Straits, Srtraits, S5traits, S6traits, Sytraits, Sgtraits, Srraits, S5raits, S6raits, Syraits, Sgraits, Strraits, St5raits, St6raits, Styraits, Stgraits, Steraits, St4raits, St5raits, Sttraits, Stfraits, Steaits, St4aits, St5aits, Sttaits, Stfaits, Streaits, Str4aits, Str5aits, Strtaits, Strfaits, Strqaits, Strwaits, Strsaits, Strzaits, Strqits, Strwits, Strsits, Strzits, Straqits, Strawits, Strasits, Strazits, Strauits, Stra8its, Stra9its, Straoits, Strajits, Strakits, Strauts, Stra8ts, Stra9ts, Straots, Strajts, Strakts, Straiuts, Strai8ts, Strai9ts, Straiots, Straijts, Straikts, Strairts, Strai5ts, Strai6ts, Straiyts, Straigts, Strairs, Strai5s, Strai6s, Straiys, Straigs, Straitrs, Strait5s, Strait6s, Straitys, Straitgs, Straitas, Straitws, Straites, Straitds, Straitxs, Straitzs, Straita, Straitw, Straite, Straitd, Straitx, Straitz, Straitsa, Straitsw, Straitse, Straitsd, Straitsx, Straitsz.
Other Usage ExamplesI was a bartender for a long time, so I know how to make drinks, but I'm more likely to offer them than to have them. I think this is one of the reasons why I get to live longer than my great-grandmother did, and why I get to produce more writing than she did, and why my marriage isn't in dire straits.