Question

Up Against the Wall in big trouble; in a difficult or desperate situation

Accepted Answer

Ben's up against the wall. He lost his job and can't make the payments on the house. This example of American slang from the late 19th century probably refers to the practice of lining people up against walls for a variety of reasons. Suspected criminals stand against a wall in a police lineup. The police often make a person being arrested lean forward with his or her hands up against a wall. A robber may also hold his or her prey at gunpoint up against a wall to prevent the victim from escaping.

Idiom	Up Against the Wall
Example	Ben's up against the wall. He lost his job and can't make the payments on the house.
Meaning	in big trouble; in a difficult or desperate situation
Origin	This example of American slang from the late 19th century probably refers to the practice of lining people up against walls for a variety of reasons. Suspected criminals stand against a wall in a police lineup. The police often make a person being arrested lean forward with his or her hands up against a wall. A robber may also hold his or her prey at gunpoint up against a wall to prevent the victim from escaping.

Wall Make Police Ben's Lost Job Payments House