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3. back into a corner

back into a corner

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back into a corner

1. To force or be forced into a difficult or unpleasant situation that one cannot easily resolve or escape. A noun can be used between "back" and "into." 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.

2. To put oneself into a difficult or unpleasant situation that one cannot easily resolve or escape. In this usage, a reflexive pronoun is used between "back" and "into." I really backed myself into a corner when I agreed to go to two events on the same night.

See also: back, corner

back somebody into a corner

to force someone into a bad situation The company backed its workers into a corner by hiring replacements during the strike.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form get backed into a corner: When that team gets backed into a corner, they aren't afraid to fight their way out.

See also: back, corner