Question of the Day #375

"With his back against the wall, John must make do and kill his assailants with whatever’s at his disposal, including books and bucking horses."
From the second paragraph of this article at Student Edge.

上記の文で、back against the wallの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "back against the wall" mean?

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Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、


追い詰められて、窮地に陥って、絶体絶命の状況で

Back to the wallという言い方もできます。

Answer

According to The Idioms :

1. to be in a tough situation with limited options
2. to be in trouble and not have many ways out
3. to not have retreat from a bad situation

Etymology/語源

Online Etymology Dictionaryによると、

人が壁を背にして戦わなければいけない状況に追い込まれた時からくる言い回しです。軍隊において、日本語で言う背水の陣から来ているのかもしれない。

According to Online Etymology Dictionary:

The phrase originates from a situation when a person is encountered with a fight with his back against the wall. Possibly in the military, and while he cannot get attacked from the back, he does not have a way of moving forward too without facing the enemy.

Examples

• The company has its back against the wall and if the employees do not help out now, it will be bankrupt soon.
• I had my back against the wall, health wise, when I had my first child. But she was the reason why I kept trying to get better.
• When you have your back against the wall, you will have no time to realize what went wrong and how you can correct it.
• She finds herself with her back to the wall now that creditors are coming after her for more money than she makes.
• Sometimes, the best solutions arise when we are with our backs to the wall, when we don't have the luxury ofexamining every option under the sun.