paint into a corner

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 also: corner, paint

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paint someone/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: corner, paint