Phrase guide

back to the wall

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A very difficult situation with no beneficial options available for action.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: med ryggen mod muren — very difficult situation
  • Finnish: selkä seinää vasten — very difficult situation
  • French: être dos au mur — very difficult situation
  • German: mit dem Rücken zur Wand — very difficult situation
  • Italian: spalle al muro — very difficult situation
  • Norwegian Bokmål: med ryggen mot veggen — very difficult situation
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: med ryggen mot veggen — very difficult situation
  • Polish: przyparty do muru — very difficult situation
  • Polish: plecami do ściany — very difficult situation
  • Polish: pod ścianą — very difficult situation
  • Turkish: kuyruğu kapana kısılmak — very difficult situation