a young usually woman in dire straits= well a timely ( it is getting near the l7-l8 or July) Anastasia Romanov on the night of the St. Petersburg Massacre! Lois Lane ( fictional) in various tight...
A melodrama 'Damsel in distress' is usually a beautiful young lady who is under the power of a villain. in most cases the villain blackmails the damsel and an un-expected hero comes forth to help...
Yes, it is; it comes from the French. The word "damsel" (an old word that used to refer to a 'young lady') is not used in conversation any more. The expression means a lady in need of being rescued,...