come to a pretty pass
To encounter or develop into a particularly difficult, troublesome, or bad state or situation. Now don't spread this around, but I hear thing have come to a pretty pass between Mark and his girlfriend. Negotiations between management and the striking employees came to a pretty pass when the labor union rejected the company's latest deal.
come to a pretty pass
Fig. to encounter a difficult situation. (This pretty expresses irony.) This project has come to a pretty pass. I don't know how we can possibly finish on time. Mary had come to a pretty pass. She quit her job to be with her husband, and then he left her.
come to a pretty pass
reach a bad or regrettable state of affairs.