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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The same goes for furniture like a couch or TV console backed up against the wall. —

Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Dec. 2024 Going back to the moment of the fan throwing the first ball on the field, a security guard was sitting right next him up against the wall, though nothing came of that toss onto the field. —

Scott Thompson, Fox News, 7 Oct. 2024 They’re meant to be set up against a wall, so only one side of the tree is full enough to be on display. —

Genevieve Cepeda, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024 In a way, that means smaller bathrooms may mean smaller ticket prices, but that’s cold comfort when you’re wedged up against the wall trying to do your business. —

Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 13 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for up against a/the wall

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“Up against a/the wall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/up%20against%20a%2Fthe%20wall. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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