paint yourself into a corner

paint (oneself) into a corner

To create a predicament or unpleasant situation for oneself whereby there are no or very few favorable solutions or outcomes. I really painted myself into a corner by leaving this essay till the last minute! The candidate painted himself into a corner during the debate, having to take back several things he'd already said.

paint yourself into a corner

box yourself into a corner

If you paint yourself into a corner or box yourself into a corner, you create difficulties for yourself by your own actions. The Government has painted itself into a corner on the issue of equalising the State pension age. You've boxed yourself into a corner, haven't you? You have no one to blame but yourself. Note: You can also say that someone paints you into a corner or boxes you into a corner, meaning they force you into a difficult situation. You'll fight to the death when you're boxed into a corner unless you're provided with a reasonable way out. Note: `Paint someone into a corner' refers to someone who is painting a floor and ends up in a corner of the room with wet paint all round them. `Box someone into a corner' refers to a boxer being forced into a corner of the ring and having no way of escaping.

paint yourself into a corner

leave yourself no means of escape or room to manoeuvre.

back/paint somebody/yourself into a ˈcorner

(usually used in the passive) force somebody/yourself into a very difficult position that they/you cannot escape from: The President had backed himself into a corner by promising not to raise taxes.

词组	paint yourself into a corner
释义	paint yourself into a corner paint (oneself) into a corner To create a predicament or unpleasant situation for oneself whereby there are no or very few favorable solutions or outcomes. I really painted myself into a corner by leaving this essay till the last minute! The candidate painted himself into a corner during the debate, having to take back several things he'd already said. See also: corner, paint Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. paint yourself into a corner or box yourself into a corner If you paint yourself into a corner or box yourself into a corner, you create difficulties for yourself by your own actions. The Government has painted itself into a corner on the issue of equalising the State pension age. You've boxed yourself into a corner, haven't you? You have no one to blame but yourself. Note: You can also say that someone paints you into a corner or boxes you into a corner, meaning they force you into a difficult situation. You'll fight to the death when you're boxed into a corner unless you're provided with a reasonable way out. Note: `Paint someone into a corner' refers to someone who is painting a floor and ends up in a corner of the room with wet paint all round them. `Box someone into a corner' refers to a boxer being forced into a corner of the ring and having no way of escaping. See also: corner, paint Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. paint yourself into a corner leave yourself no means of escape or room to manoeuvre. See also: corner, paint Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary back/paint somebody/yourself into a ˈcorner (usually used in the passive) force somebody/yourself into a very difficult position that they/you cannot escape from: The President had backed himself into a corner by promising not to raise taxes. See also: back, corner, paint, somebody Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary See also: for (one's) (own) sake for sake put (oneself) on the line put yourself on the line kick oneself kick yourself wash (one's) hands of (someone or something) wash hands of wash one's hands of wash your hands of somebody/something References in periodicals archive 5 DON'T PAINT YOURSELF INTO A CORNER Most importantly, start on the far edge of the room and don't paint yourself into a corner (this does happen, and is a right laugh when the apprentices do it!). TAKE THE FLOOR Paint yourself into a corner by going on record as to when you will finish a project. One secret of achievement: create momentum. (On the Management Side)
随便看	by/in leaps and bounds by/in virtue of something by itself by Jove by leaps and bounds by lot by main force by main strength and awkwardness by means of by means of (something) by means of something by mistake by myself by name by nature by night by no means by no stretch by no stretch of the imagination by numbers BYO BYOB BYOM by one's bootstraps by (oneself)