in a crunch / six-figured dive

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to tel me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expressions in bold in the following excerpt from the article “Even The Rich Need A Loan”

Thanks to tight credit at the bank, [even] the rich are in a crunch now offering their jewels as collateral for up to seven-figure loans. Beverly Loan usually charges 4 percent monthly interest. And in 70 years [of doing business, it] has never loaned so much. …
… In a town where image is everything, some in the moneyed elite just can't stand the shame of it all. So they're asking to meet out in the alley to get their loans on the sly.
And for Patois De Sandies it isn't a shame. She made her money in real estate and stocks. But when her investments recently took a six-figure dive, she needed a bailout.

in a crunch = in a crucial situation

crunch (n) = a critical situation that arises because of a shortage (as a shortage of time or money or resources); "a financial crunch"

when in comes to the crunch = when it comes to the crucial situation = when the situation comes to the head = when the things come to a pretty pass

dive (n) = a usually swift downward trend, as in prices: decrease, decline, descent, dip, downslide, downswing, downtrend, downturn, drop, drop-off, fall, , plunge, skid, slide, slump, tumble

In my opinion the rate of the mentioned above “dive” is concerned with the depth of the recession.

Thank you for your efforts.

Regards,

V.

[Searching for language]

A six figure dive is losing money anywhere between $100,000. and $999,999. Once it goes to a million, it is called a seven figure dive.

I am not a teacher.

[David L.]

Don't Americans have any real 'feel' and 'sense' for what comes out of the mouths and pens?

'when it comes to the crunch' :a crucial point or situation, typically one at which a decision with important consequences must be made

credit crunch: a severe shortage of money or credit

What the author of that news item means is, "in the crunch" - meaning, "in the credit crunch", the specific 'credit crunch' currently being experienced world-wide.

A better way of expressing it would have been, 'feeling the crunch'= feeling the effects of the credit crunch.

[RonBee]

"in a crunch" - Yahoo! Search Results
"in a crunch" - Google Search

[Charlie Bernstein]

Don't Americans have any real 'feel' and 'sense' for what comes out of the mouths and pens?

No. Our job is talking. You're job is listening!

'when it comes to the crunch' :a crucial point or situation, typically one at which a decision with important consequences must be made

credit crunch: a severe shortage of money or credit

What the author of that news item means is, "in the crunch" - meaning, "in the credit crunch", the specific 'credit crunch' currently being experienced world-wide.

A better way of expressing it would have been, 'feeling the crunch'= feeling the effects of the credit crunch.

Not in this case. In American (not that there are any subtlties to observe), that would be a shift of meaning.

Your phrase:

feeling the crunch = feeling the pressure, feeling the heat, feeling the impact

...but:

THE crunch = the moment of truth, the wire, the deadline

So, not to worry.

"The crunch" is a good American phrase, used exactly right in the article.

cb

[Searching for language]

You're job is listening!

I do believe that should be "Your job is listening!"

I am not a teacher.

[RonBee]

You're job is listening!

I do believe that should be "Your job is listening!"

in a crunch - in a tough spot

[Ouisch]

Don't Americans have any real 'feel' and 'sense' for what comes out of the mouths and pens?

Not really. We're a bunch of ill-mannered barbarians who'd rather drive our SUVs and scratch ourselves in front of our big-screen plasma TVs than worry about the nuances of the Queen's English, doncha know?

[BobK]

Not really. We're a bunch of ill-mannered barbarians who'd rather drive our SUVs and scratch ourselves in front of our big-screen plasma TVs than worry about the nuances of the Queen's English, doncha know?

Do I detect a note of sarcasm? This really won't do. The erstwhile colonial power won't be satisfied until you stop using English altogether.

b
PS Thanks for not rising to the bait.

[Charlie Bernstein]

You're job is listening!

I do believe that should be "Your job is listening!"

I am not a teacher.

Well! Keep me honest!

(Thanks. I needed that.)

=O]