corner

back oneself into a corner

Fig. to manage to get oneself into a position where there is limited escape. (Ranging from literal to figurative.) He tells different stories to different people. Finally he backed himself into a corner and had to admit his lies.

See also: back, oneself

corner the market on something and corner the something market

Fig. to develop or obtain a monopoly of something. The company sought to corner the market on frozen yogurt. Standard Oil had the oil market cornered at the end of the nineteenth century.

See also: market

cut corners

Fig. to take shortcuts; to save money or effort by finding cheaper or easier ways to do something. They're always finding ways to cut corners. I won't cut corners just to save money. I put quality first.

See also: cut

drive someone into a corner 

1. . Lit. to force someone into the place where two walls intersect. They drove him into a corner and captured him there. When he is driven into a corner, he will fight.

2. Fig. to force someone into a position or state where there are few choices and no escape. You have driven me into a corner, so I guess I have to give in. Todd was driven into a corner when everyone disagreed with him.

See also: drive

from all corners of the world and from the four corners of the earth

Fig. from all places in the world. People came from all corners of the world to attend the conference.

See also: world

have someone or something cornered 

1. Lit. to have someone or something trapped as in a corner. We had the wild cat cornered, but it jumped over the wall and got away.

2. Fig. to have someone or something located and under control. I think I have the part you need cornered in a warehouse in Indiana. We'll order it.

See also: have

have someone in one's corner

Fig. to have someone supporting one's position or goals. (Originally from boxing.) As long as I have Mr. Howe in my corner, I feel confident about what I have to say.

See also: have

out of the corner of one's eye

Fig. [seeing something] at a glance; glimpsing something, as with peripheral vision. I saw someone do it out of the corner of my eye. It might have been Jane who did it. I only saw the accident out of the corner of my eye. I don't know who is at fault.

See also: eye, out

turn the corner

Fig. to pass a critical point in a process. The patient turned the corner last night. She should begin to show improvement now. The project has turned the corner. The rest should be easy.

See also: turn

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around the corner

going to happen very soon With the end of the century just around the corner, major celebrations were being planned.

See also: around

be backed into a corner

to be forced into a difficult situation which you have little control over I feel I've been backed into a corner and I have no choice but to sign the contract.

be in a tight corner/spot

to be in a difficult situation She had been in tight corners before and had always managed to get out of them.

See have on a short leash, keep a tight rein on, run a tight ship, sit tight

See also: tight

catty-corner  (American) also catty-cornered (American)

in a direction from one corner of a square to the opposite, far corner (often + to ) Catty-corner to the theatre, there's a drugstore.

corner the market

to become so successful at selling or making a particular product that almost no one else sells or makes it They've more or less cornered the fast-food market - they're in every big city in the country.

See also: market

cut corners

to do something in the easiest, quickest, or cheapest way, often harming the quality of your work We've had to cut corners to make a film on such a small budget. Companies are having to cut corners in order to remain competitive in the market.

See also: cut

fight your corner  (British)

to defend something that you believe in by arguing You'll have to be ready to fight your corner if you want them to extend the project.

See fight like cat and dog

See also: fight

have somebody in your corner

to have the support or help of someone We're lucky we've got James in our corner. No one can beat him in a debate.

See be backed into a corner, fight corner, paint into a corner, turn the corner

See also: have

hole-and-corner  (British) also hole-in-the-corner (British)

hole-and-corner activities are kept secret, usually because they are dishonest (always before noun) I don't want any more hole-in-the-corner deals, from now all our business will be done in the open.

kitty-corner  (American) also kitty-cornered (American)

in a direction from one corner of a square to the opposite, far corner (often + to ) You know the building - it's kitty-corner to my office.

paint yourself into a corner

to do something which puts you in a very difficult situation and limits the way that you can act I've painted myself into a corner here. Having said I won't take less than £20 an hour, I can't then be seen to accept a job that pays less.

See be like watching paint dry

See also: paint

the four corners of the earth/world

every part of the world Wedding guests arrived from the four corners of the world.

See also: earth, four

turn the corner

if something or someone turns the corner, their situation starts to improve after a difficult period Certainly, the company's been through difficult times but I think we can safely say that we have now turned the corner. I was really ill on Tuesday and Wednesday but I think I've finally turned the corner.

See also: turn

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around the corner

close Lighter and smaller laptops are just around the corner. Spring is here and baseball season is just around the corner.

See also: around

back somebody into a corner

to force someone into a bad situation The company backed its workers into a corner by hiring replacements during the strike.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form get backed into a corner: When that team gets backed into a corner, they aren't afraid to fight their way out.

See also: back

corner the market also have a corner on the market

to control the supply or sale of a particular product The company tried to corner the market on several types of computer software.

See also: market

cut corners

to do something in the fastest or cheapest way We couldn't get the money we needed, so we had to cut corners to make the film - and it shows.

See also: cut

from the corner of your eye also out the corner of your eye

not seen completely, only briefly noticed From the corner of his eye he thought he saw a large dog, but it was actually a coyote.

See also: eye

in your corner

supporting you It makes a big difference to have a crackerjack, experienced lawyer in your corner.

paint somebody/yourself into a corner

to do something that takes away all of your choices They've painted themselves into a corner by promising to announce the results of their investigation. The army painted the rebels into a corner, and the only choice they had was to fight.

See also: paint

the four corners of the earth also the four corners of the world

every part of the world The giant company plans to bring coffee and soft drinks to the four corners of the earth.

Related vocabulary: to the four winds

See also: earth, four

turn the corner

to improve after going through something difficult I wonder if the country has really turned the corner in this crisis.

See also: turn