back (one or oneself) into a corner

back (one or oneself) into a corner

1. To force one into a difficult or unpleasant situation that one cannot easily resolve or escape. My boss really backed me into a corner when he asked me to fire the CEO's daughter. Scott has been backed into a corner with this mortgage payment that he cannot afford.

2. To put oneself into a difficult or unpleasant situation that one cannot easily resolve or escape. I really backed myself into a corner when I agreed to go to two events on the same night.

See also: back, corner

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

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, corner

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