back\ against\ the\ wall

back\ against\ the\ wall
• back to the wall
• back against the wall
adv. phr.
In a trap, with no way to escape; in bad trouble.

The soldiers had their backs to the wall.

He was in debt and could not get any help; his back was against the wall.

The team had their backs to the wall in the second half.

Compare: between the devil and the deep blue sea, last ditch, on the spot, up against it

Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • back against the wall —  No place to go; a difficult situation.  ► “Its [GM’s] global sourcing strategy to buy low cost, quality components from anywhere in the world alone puts the union’s back against the wall.” (Ward’s Auto World, May 1995, p. 14) …   American business jargon

  • with your back against the wall — with (your/its) back against the wall in a serious situation with few ways to react to it. Many of these schools find themselves with their backs against the wall, and unless they get more funding, they ll have to fire some teachers. Usage notes …   New idioms dictionary

  • with its back against the wall — with (your/its) back against the wall in a serious situation with few ways to react to it. Many of these schools find themselves with their backs against the wall, and unless they get more funding, they ll have to fire some teachers. Usage notes …   New idioms dictionary

  • with back against the wall — with (your/its) back against the wall in a serious situation with few ways to react to it. Many of these schools find themselves with their backs against the wall, and unless they get more funding, they ll have to fire some teachers. Usage notes …   New idioms dictionary

  • back\ to\ the\ wall — • back to the wall • back against the wall adv. phr. In a trap, with no way to escape; in bad trouble. The soldiers had their backs to the wall. He was in debt and could not get any help; his back was against the wall. The team had their backs to …   Словарь американских идиом

  • back to the wall — or[back against the wall] {adv. phr.} In a trap, with no way to escape; in bad trouble. * /The soldiers had their backs to the wall./ * /He was in debt and could not get any help; his back was against the wall./ * /The team had their backs to the …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • back to the wall — or[back against the wall] {adv. phr.} In a trap, with no way to escape; in bad trouble. * /The soldiers had their backs to the wall./ * /He was in debt and could not get any help; his back was against the wall./ * /The team had their backs to the …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • have (your) back against the wall — have (your) back against/to the wall to have very serious problems which limit the ways in which you can act. With rising labour costs, industry has its back to the wall. When his back was against the wall he became very aggressive …   New idioms dictionary

  • back against the wall — in a very difficult position; with few or no choices as to what action to take …   Idioms and examples

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