paint oneself into a corner

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• Received-Pronunciation: /ˈpeɪnt wʌnˈsɛlf ˈɪntʊ ə ˈkɔːnə(ɹ)/
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• General-American: /ˈpeɪnt wʌnˈsɛlf ˈɪntu ə ˈkɔɹnɚ/
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• Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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From the idea that a person painting the floor of a room may inadvertently apply the paint over the whole floor and trap themselves in a corner away from any exit, so that to leave the room the person has no choice but to step on the fresh paint and ruin it.

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

• Danish: male sig selv op i et hjørne — to create a predicament or problem for oneself
• Dutch: jezelf in de hoek schilderen — to create a predicament or problem for oneself
• Finnish: maalata itsensä nurkkaan — to create a predicament or problem for oneself
• French: se peinturer dans un coin — to create a predicament or problem for oneself
• Italian: essere con le spalle al muro — to create a predicament or problem for oneself
• Norwegian Bokmål: male seg inn i et hjørne — to create a predicament or problem for oneself
• Norwegian Nynorsk: måle seg inn i eit hjørne — to create a predicament or problem for oneself
• Spanish: meterse en un berenjenal — to create a predicament or problem for oneself
• Spanish: meterse en un jardín — to create a predicament or problem for oneself
• Spanish: meterse en la boca del lobo — to create a predicament or problem for oneself