Pickle
Etymology
From Middle Dutch or Low German "pekel" (brine), of uncertain deeper origin; a popular story crediting a Dutchman named Beukel is folk etymology. The idiom “in a pickle,” meaning in a difficult mess, draws on the same image of being stewed in sour brine.
verb · /PIK-ul/
To preserve food in an acidic liquid such as vinegar or a fermenting brine, giving it a sour, tangy character.
What it names
The preservation method behind cucumbers, kimchi, capers, and chutney — and the tang that cuts through rich food.
Example
She likes to pickle red onions in vinegar and sugar to brighten up tacos.
Related idea
Distinct from fermentation: quick pickling borrows sourness from added vinegar, whereas fermented pickles grow their own acid through living bacteria over time.
noun · /PIK-ul/
A difficult, awkward, or messy situation.
What it names
a predicament
Example
We were in a real pickle when the car broke down miles from anywhere.
Related idea
The idea is of being stewed in something sour — stuck and uncomfortable. Compare an untenable position.