over a barrel
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over a barrel
Where it comes from
According to The Oxford English Dictionary and The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms, the phrase possibly refers to the act of placing an individual who has been rescued from drowning over a barrel to allow their lungs to clear of water.
phrase
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In a disadvantageous or helpless situation, especially one in which one may be controlled or victimized.
Ford had the U.A.W. over a barrel; if it failed to sign by midnight, the U.A.W. would be forced to give up its union shop.
Similar: up a tree, up the creek, have someone by the short hairs § Synonyms
Translations
Every language
prep_phrase in a helpless situation
| Español | contra la pared |
|---|---|
| Italiano | spalle al muro |
| Русский | заста́ть кого́-ли́бо враспло́х zastátʹ kovó-líbo vrasplóx |
Talk about this word "over a barrel." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/over%20a%20barrel. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. over a barrel. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/over%20a%20barrel "over a barrel." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/over%20a%20barrel.Cite this
@misc{over_a_barrel_2026,
title = {over a barrel},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/over%20a%20barrel},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
