être dos au mur

• IPA^(key): /ɛ.tʁə do o myʁ/, /e.tʁə do o myʁ/, /ɛ.tʁə do.z‿o myʁ/, /e.tʁə do.z‿o myʁ/

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être dos au mur

1. (figuratively) to have one's back to the wall, to be up against the wall, to be backed into a corner, to have no way out

   Synonyms: être au pied du mur, être acculé

Also used with other verbs, such as se retrouver (“to end up”).