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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

over a barrel en · ADP

Pronunciation

Etymology

According to The Oxford English Dictionary and The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms, the phrase possibly refers to the act of placing an individual who has been rescued from drowning over a barrel to allow their lungs to clear of water.

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) In a disadvantageous or helpless situation, especially one in which one may be controlled or victimized.
    • 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". 2018 September 1, “AP sources: Lawyer was told Russia had 'Trump over a barrel'”, in AP News:
    • 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. 1947 September 1, “Happy Day”, in Time:

Synonyms

have someone by the short hairs § Synonyms · up a tree · up the creek

Translations (6)

nl hopeloos (in a helpless situation) · es contra la pared (in a helpless situation) · it spalle al muro (in a helpless situation) · ru заста́ть кого́-ли́бо враспло́х (in a helpless situation) · nl in de knel (in a helpless situation) · pl w garści (in a helpless situation)