1885 C. A. Siringo 125 Dangerous to cross. But the wagons being over made it a ground hog case.
1897 R. Kipling x. 234 ‘Ground-hog case,’ said the Galway man. ‘Badly lighted port, Danny.’
1927 2 356/1 [W. Virginia dial.] Ground hog case, something that has to be settled immediately.