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 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
Young is at his best when Alabama's back is against the wall.
—Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 13 Nov. 2022
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
Young is at his best when Alabama's back is against the wall.
—Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 13 Nov. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'back is to/against the wall.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near back is to/against 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 26 Apr. 2024.
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