don't know where the origin of the old phrase comes from, but the word "dire" means "serious" or "extreme", and "straits" usually means a narrow passage (usually water) between two impassable barriers (such as continents or mountains or whatever). Hmm, now that I think about it, it doesn't make much sense. But then, old sayings rarely make sense.

Reference to myth of Scilla and Haridba (sp?), perhaps? Or to real world dire (dangerous) straits, such as Magellan's at Tierra Fuego (or whatever is original name for Vatrena Zemlja, as we call the tip of South America).

Dragi "Bonzi" Raos
Zagreb, Croatia
Q#5196, MkII#80000376, 18GB green