distress

Everyday

1. Great worry, sadness or pain. tree →
2. A situation of danger where help is badly needed: «a ship in distress». tree →
3. (verb) To make someone very worried or upset. tree →
4. (verb) To make furniture or clothes look old on purpose: «distressed jeans». tree →

In the lessons

In safety lessons: a «distress signal» (like a flare or SOS) calls for help; animals or people «in distress» need help from an adult or emergency services. In stories it shows a character is very upset or in danger: «a damsel in distress». Phrases: «in distress», «distress call», «distress signal», «cause distress», «emotional distress».

Examples

• The ship sent out a distress signal. tree →
• The puppy whimpered in distress. tree →
• Her tears showed her distress. tree →
• Seeing the injured bird distressed the children. tree →
• Lifeguards help swimmers in distress. tree →
• The news caused great distress to the family. tree →
• The jeans are distressed to look old. tree →
• Her evident distress caused the sly Fox much amusement. tree →

Note

Double s at the end. Adjective: «distressed» (upset, or made to look old) and «distressing» (causing upset). Safety: if you see someone in distress, tell an adult or call emergency services (999 UK/Ireland, 911 US/Canada, 000 Australia, 111 NZ).

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it often means a time of danger or trouble, when a person turns to God.

Interpretation. Tradition reads Moses' words in Deuteronomy as saying that Israel can always return to God in trouble, and that return (teshuvah) is always open.

Examples

• In thy distress, when all these things are come upon thee, in the end of days, thou wilt return to the LORD thy God, and hearken unto His voice; (Torah DEU.4.30, JPS 1917) tree →
• and let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.' (Torah GEN.35.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• And they said one to another: 'We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.' (Torah GEN.42.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• Nevertheless He looked upon their distress, when He heard their cry; (Writings PSA.106.44, JPS 1917) tree →
• In my distress I called unto the LORD, and He answered me. (Writings PSA.120.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• The troubles of my heart are enlarged; O bring Thou me out of my distresses. (Writings PSA.25.17, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Double s at the end. Adjective: «distressed» (upset, or made to look old) and «distressing» (causing upset). Safety: if you see someone in distress, tell an adult or call emergency services (999 UK/Ireland, 911 US/Canada, 000 Australia, 111 NZ).