backed oneself into a corner
Created own predicament
To back oneself into a corner is to create a situation through one's own actions where options have narrowed and escape is difficult.
The image is of retreat ending at walls—nowhere left to go.
By making such bold promises, she'd backed herself into a corner.
Unlike being backed into a corner by others, this phrasing emphasizes self-inflicted predicament.
- Catch-22Self-defeating logical trap
- rock and a hard placeSituation with only bad choices
- overcommitmentPromising beyond one's capacity
- stalemateMutual obstruction preventing progress
- impasseSituation without resolution
frustration · tunnel vision · deadlock · compromise · anxiety · miscalculation · bind · quandary · retreat · regret · rigidity · shortsightedness · self-sabotage · bridge burned · point of no return · gridlock · guilt · stubbornness
backed oneself into a cornerkept one's options open
Preserved multiple possible paths
backed oneself into a cornerplayed one's cards right
Acted strategically for advantage
backed, backing, backer, backside, backbone, backward, backwards, oneself, corner