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

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Inside, the family sit up against the wall on dusty old blankets and cushions, their possessions piled into one corner. —

Freddie Clayton, NBC News, 28 Oct. 2024 Vertical-folding treadmills can be stored in a closet or up against a wall, while most under-desk treadmills fall into the horizontal folding category and can be slid under a couch or bed. —

Ashley Zlatopolsky, Architectural Digest, 12 Sep. 2024 Here’s how to do it, per Dr. Hewett Brumberg: Back up against a wall. Make a fist with one hand and place the thumb side against your abdomen just above your navel. —

Julia Sullivan, SELF, 9 July 2024 My back’s up against the wall, so my legs don’t get taken out. —

Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 26 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for up against a/the wall

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“Up against a/the wall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/up%20against%20a%2Fthe%20wall. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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