paint oneself into a corner
A group of men painting a spa
Meaning
Verb
- To create a predicament or problem for oneself; to do something that leaves one with no good alternatives or solutions.
Related
Similar words
- back oneself into a corner
- box oneself into a corner
- get oneself into a corner
- talk oneself into a corner
- write oneself into a corner
Origin
- From the idea that a person painting the floor of a room may inadvertently apply the paint over the whole floor so as to trap the person in a corner away from any exit, so that to leave the room the person has no choice but to step on the fresh paint and damage it.
Modern English dictionary
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