Idioms, what do they mean?

[Griff]

Originally Posted by BigV

In this context, he's not talking about a dilemma, a ball game, or a condiment, doncha think?

Unless the dilemma is how to scratch his itchy pickle in a space suit.

Originally Posted by sexobon

Doesn't "pickle" come from the Dutch "pekel" which means "brine" which is a salty solution like sweat? One would think the quote "... I was sweating like a pig, the pickle was a pest, ..." would be a cutesy way of saying that the weightless beads of sweat floating around in his helmet were a pest.

That is an interesting take.