back is to/against the wall
idiom
: 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.
Examples of back is to/against the wall in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And when a team’s back is against the wall — like the Pistons, who can’t afford to lose another home game — things tend to get chippy fast.
—
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2025
When your back is against the wall, the only way forward is through determination.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Look, Mahomes is terrific when his back is against the wall.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2025
Given this complicated electoral map, and given that Netanyahu’s back is against the wall of indictment, the coming campaign stands to be the nastiest playing-for-keeps contest in Israel’s history.
—Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2019
And sometimes your back is against the wall and there may be no way out.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2021
If the Ravens won, that would not be much of a shocker, but Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin is a fighter when his back is against the wall.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 5 Jan. 2024
When your back is against the wall, and everything is on the line, listen to one voice above all else: your own.
—Anna Oakes, Quartz, 23 Feb. 2023
Hayden Grove 2-8-1, $2.33 (Lost $2): Browns 34, Texans 21 ($2.33) Again, my back is against the wall.
—Dan Labbe, cleveland, 4 Dec. 2022
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Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2025
When your back is against the wall, the only way forward is through determination.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Look, Mahomes is terrific when his back is against the wall.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2025
Given this complicated electoral map, and given that Netanyahu’s back is against the wall of indictment, the coming campaign stands to be the nastiest playing-for-keeps contest in Israel’s history.
—Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2019
And sometimes your back is against the wall and there may be no way out.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2021
If the Ravens won, that would not be much of a shocker, but Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin is a fighter when his back is against the wall.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 5 Jan. 2024
When your back is against the wall, and everything is on the line, listen to one voice above all else: your own.
—Anna Oakes, Quartz, 23 Feb. 2023
Hayden Grove 2-8-1, $2.33 (Lost $2): Browns 34, Texans 21 ($2.33) Again, my back is against the wall.
—Dan Labbe, cleveland, 4 Dec. 2022
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 22 May. 2025.
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