back (one or oneself) into a corner
back (one or oneself) into a corner
1. To force one into a difficult or unpleasant situation that one cannot easily resolve or escape. My boss really backed me into a corner when he asked me to fire the CEO's daughter. Scott has been backed into a corner with this mortgage payment that he cannot afford. The senator's opponent backed him into a corner during the debate, forcing him to take back several things he'd already said.
2. To put oneself into such a situation. I really backed myself into a corner when I agreed to go to two events on the same night. You really backed yourself into a corner by leaving this essay till the last minute, huh? Why did you agree to go if you didn't really want to? You've backed yourself into a corner now.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
back oneself into a corner
Fig. to manage to get oneself into a position where there is limited escape. (Ranging from literal to figurative.) He tells different stories to different people. Finally he backed himself into a corner and had to admit his lies.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.