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
Body camera footage shows Brooks' hands tied behind his back in a prison infirmary as officers punched him, hit him with a shoe, lifted him by his neck, pushed him up against a wall, and stripped him of his clothing before medical personnel entered an examination room to assess him.
—
Casey Pritchard, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2025
The Chiefs later added another Butker field goal to push Houston’s backs up against the wall.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
Reality: In reality, your manager’s back might be up against the wall.
—Chris Westfall, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
House members are packed back up against the wall with the small group of reporters allowed to attend.
—Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for up against a/the wall
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Casey Pritchard, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2025
The Chiefs later added another Butker field goal to push Houston’s backs up against the wall.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
Reality: In reality, your manager’s back might be up against the wall.
—Chris Westfall, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
House members are packed back up against the wall with the small group of reporters allowed to attend.
—Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 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 1 Mar. 2025.
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