back to the wall

1. Also, back against the wall. In a hard-pressed situation; also, without any way of escape. For example, In the closing few minutes, our team had its back to the wall but continued to fight gallantly, or The bank has him with his back to the wall; he'll have to pay up now. This term was used originally for a military force that is making a last stand. [First half of 1500s]

Example Sentences

Bronny James stood with his back to the wall with both hands buried in his workout shorts, his practice with the Lakers summer league team complete, his voice sounding more confident now that he’s entering his second season in the NBA.

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With his back to the wall, he flings himself about the stage like a performer desperate to wring every second of his dwindling time in the spotlight.

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In fact, the very existence of the union was a consequence of the success of local organizing in response a few years back to the Wall Street types who owned the Milwaukee Bucks and threatened to pull the basketball team out of the city unless they got hundreds of millions in support from taxpayers for the construction of what is now the Fiserv Forum and surrounding redevelopment district.

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They let him rest for a minute, then moved back to the wall.

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The boy responded by cautiously moving out from behind the desk, keeping his back to the wall and his eyes fixed on the man.

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Related Words

• despondent 
• forlorn 
• futile 
• sad 
• vain