tense situation

Humor can take the edge off a tense situation, too.

"Negotiation with these groups is the only way out of today's tense situation."

"We could use a little help here," he said, though his calm voice was not in keeping with the tense situation.

In that game, a player must answer a question about how he would resolve a tense situation.

They need to increase training on how to avoid turning a tense situation into a deadly one.

Nothing like a good tense situation to sweat you out.

Anxiety can be a good thing when it helps you deal with a tense situation.

The tense situation in eastern Chad has not helped much either.

The tense international situation left little room for such disputes.