have back to the wall

have (one's) back to the wall

To be in a bad or high-pressure situation in which one's choice or ability to act is limited. She really has her back to the wall now that creditors are coming after her for more money than she makes. Sometimes, the best solutions arise when our options are limited and we have our backs to the wall. Well, you have your back to the wall now, so you better tell the Feds everything you know about that shady partner of yours!

See also: back, have, to, wall

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

have one's back to the wall

Fig. to be in a defensive position. He'll have to give in. He has his back to the wall. How can I bargain when I've got my back to the wall?

See also: back, have, to, wall

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.