back to the wall

Idioms  

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]

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Example Sentences

"I very much had my back to the wall," he said.

From BBC • Nov. 25, 2025

He quickly peels the banana and nonchalantly eats it while the camera rolls, before taping the peel back to the wall.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2023

Now she had her back to the wall.

From Salon • Apr. 16, 2023

“Once I saw him running back to the wall, I was thinking in my head, ‘Oh, please just don’t catch it, just don’t catch it.’”

From Washington Times • Oct. 29, 2022

Peter sits with his back to the wall in the hallway.

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth

Related Words

• despondent
• forlorn
• futile
• sad
• vain