over a barrel

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English

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1912 illustration of an inmate being punished in an American prison

Etymology

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(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

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Prepositional phrase

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over a barrel

  1. (idiomatic) In a disadvantageous or helpless situation, especially one in which one may be controlled or victimized.
    • 1947 September 1, “Happy Day”, in 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.
    • 2018 September 1, “AP sources: Lawyer was told Russia had 'Trump over a barrel'”, in AP News:
      Bruce Ohr revealed that "an unnamed former Russian intelligence official had communicated that Russian intelligence believed 'they had Trump over a barrel', a "sentiment [that] is echoed in Steele's dossier".

Synonyms

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Translations

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References

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