over a barrel

English

1912 illustration of an inmate being punished in an American prison

Prepositional phrase

over a barrel

(idiomatic) In a disadvantageous or helpless situation, especially one in which one may be controlled or victimized.
- 1947 Sept. 1, "Happy Day," Time:
  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.

Synonyms

up a tree, up the creek

Translations

in a helpless situation

Dutch: hopeloos (nl), in de knel

Italian: spalle al muro

References

“over a barrel” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
“over a barrel” in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

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