one's back to / against the wall

/wˈɒnz bˈak tʊ ɐɡˈɛnst ðə wˈɔːl/

/wˈʌnz bˈæk tʊ ɐɡˈɛnst ðə wˈɔːl/

one's back to / against the wall

in a situation where one has little choice to do what they want or need to

Examples

1. You're gonna place your back against the wall.

2. He owes money to everyone - he really has his back to the wall now.

3. He owes money to everyone - he really has his back to the wall now.

4. Spartacus had his back against the wall so he fell back to the peninsula of Rhegium.