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
Toddler girl wearing striped shorts and vest set propping her baby doll up against a wall to take a photo.
—
Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025
We’re used to a couch pressed up against the wall, but a curvy couch deserves to be in the middle of a room, its curves contrasting with four square walls.
—Dina Cheney, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
Oklahoma City, the overwhelming favorite coming into these finals, has been shoved up against a wall by the underdog Pacers.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 20 June 2025
On opening night 1995, a rat scurried across the locker room floor at Miami Arena; Mellanby slapped it up against the wall, killing it instantly.
—Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
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Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025
We’re used to a couch pressed up against the wall, but a curvy couch deserves to be in the middle of a room, its curves contrasting with four square walls.
—Dina Cheney, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
Oklahoma City, the overwhelming favorite coming into these finals, has been shoved up against a wall by the underdog Pacers.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 20 June 2025
On opening night 1995, a rat scurried across the locker room floor at Miami Arena; Mellanby slapped it up against the wall, killing it instantly.
—Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for up against a/the wall
Cite this Entry
“Up against a/the wall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/up%20against%20a%2Fthe%20wall. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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