Crossword Genius

Ruined pasties: pantry faced with a tricky situation (2,1,6,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

in a pretty pass

'faced with a tricky situation' is the definition.
(informal phrase meaning facing difficulty)

'ruined pasties pantry' is the wordplay.
'ruined' indicates an anagram.
'pasties'+'pantry'='pastiespantry'
'pastiespantry' anagrammed gives 'IN A PRETTY PASS'.

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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