have back to the wall
1have (your) back against the wall — have (your) back against/to the wall to have very serious problems which limit the ways in which you can act. With rising labour costs, industry has its back to the wall. When his back was against the wall he became very aggressive …
2have (your) back to the wall — have (your) back against/to the wall to have very serious problems which limit the ways in which you can act. With rising labour costs, industry has its back to the wall. When his back was against the wall he became very aggressive …
3back to the wall — If you have your back to the wall, you are in a difficult situation with very little room for manoeuvre …
4back to the wall — If you have your back to the wall, you are in serious difficulty. With his back to the wall, the supplier had to accept the deal …
5have one's back to the wall — idi have one s back to the wall, to be in a difficult or hopeless situation …
6with back against the wall — with (your/its) back against the wall in a serious situation with few ways to react to it. Many of these schools find themselves with their backs against the wall, and unless they get more funding, they ll have to fire some teachers. Usage notes …
7have your back to the wall — to be in a difficult situation with few choices, so that you have to work or fight very hard England had their backs to the wall in the second half …
8with your back against the wall — with (your/its) back against the wall in a serious situation with few ways to react to it. Many of these schools find themselves with their backs against the wall, and unless they get more funding, they ll have to fire some teachers. Usage notes …
9with its back against the wall — with (your/its) back against the wall in a serious situation with few ways to react to it. Many of these schools find themselves with their backs against the wall, and unless they get more funding, they ll have to fire some teachers. Usage notes …
10have one's back to the wall — v. have no other options or alternatives …
