back to the wall

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

back to the wall (plural backs to the wall)

1. (idiomatic) (Can we clean up⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) A very difficult situation with no beneficial options available for action.
   • 1901, Frank Norris, chapter 8, in The Octopus:

     From this place—so he told himself—had emanated that policy of extortion, oppression and injustice that little by little had shouldered the ranchers from their rights, till, their backs to the wall, exasperated and despairing they had turned and fought and died.

   • 1910, Edith Wharton, “The Legend”, in Tales of Men and Ghosts:

     Bernald felt that his extreme docility in such matters was proportioned to the force of resistance which, for nearly half a life-time, had kept him, with his back to the wall, fighting alone against the powers of darkness.

   • 2006 January 14, Bobby Ghosh, “Why Iran Won't Back Down”, in Time:

     His back to the wall, Ahmedinajad resorted to the tactic favored by cornered politicians everywhere: distract attention from yourself by pointing to a bogeyman.

   • 2016 May 22, Phil McNulty, “Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United”, in BBC‎:

     The England international may not have been at his best but it was his intervention when United had their backs to the wall and trailed that dragged them back into a cup final they were in danger of losing.

• go to the wall
• retreat to the wall
• up against the wall

• “back to the wall”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.