back is to/against the wall
phrase
: in a bad position in which one is forced to do something in order to avoid failure
We knew that with so little time and money left to finish the project we had our backs to the wall.
Cite this Entry
“Back is to/against the wall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20is%20to%2Fagainst%20the%20wall. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
