back against the wall
Out of options
Back against the wall describes being in a desperate situation with no room to retreat or maneuver—like a fighter cornered in combat.
When someone has their back against the wall, they face serious pressure with limited options: With our backs against the wall, we had no choice but to negotiate.
The phrase often implies that desperate circumstances may force bold action.
- corneredUnable to flee
- back to the wallForced into desperate position
- trappedUnable to escape
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
- pressuredUrged with insistence
under the gun · desperate · fight or flight · sink or swim · constrained · dire straits · pushed to the limit · threatened · besieged · make-or-break · hemmed in · endangered · boxed in · last stand · adversity · do or die · last ditch effort · last resort
- hardshipshardship, adversity, struggle, misfortune, difficulties
- pressureair pressure, blood pressure rise, blood pressure drop, barometric pressure, apply pressure
back against the wallin control
Managing with authority
holding all the cards · in the driver's seat · calling the shots · pulling the strings · running the show
back against the wallsitting pretty
In favorable circumstances
in clover · safe and sound · comfortable · secure · out of the woods
back against the wallon the offensive
in the driver's seat · on top · ahead of the game · wiggle room
backs, backed, backing, backer, backward, backwards, against, walled, walling