up against a/the wall
idiom
informal
: in a very bad position or situation
The team was up against a wall in the first half of the game.
Examples of up against a/the wall in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Just last month, Outman made a catch up against the wall, potentially robbing former Twin Carlos Correa of a game-tying home run.
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Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 6 Aug. 2025
Make Use of Your Favorite Serving Tray Garden displays a gorgeous silver platter in the very back of one of her cabinet shelves, leaning up against the wall.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Aug. 2025
Popular among both yogis and TikTok wellness fans, putting your legs up against a wall can help calm your nervous system and drain stagnant lymph and fluid that accumulates in the lower limbs.
—Morgan Fargo, Vogue, 26 July 2025
But as France discovered, Germany can be a menace even when their backs are up against the wall.
—Oli Gamp, New York Times, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for up against a/the wall
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Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 6 Aug. 2025
Make Use of Your Favorite Serving Tray Garden displays a gorgeous silver platter in the very back of one of her cabinet shelves, leaning up against the wall.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Aug. 2025
Popular among both yogis and TikTok wellness fans, putting your legs up against a wall can help calm your nervous system and drain stagnant lymph and fluid that accumulates in the lower limbs.
—Morgan Fargo, Vogue, 26 July 2025
But as France discovered, Germany can be a menace even when their backs are up against the wall.
—Oli Gamp, New York Times, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for up against a/the wall
Cite this Entry
“Up against a/the wall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/up%20against%20a%2Fthe%20wall. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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