over a barrel
prep_phraseEtymology 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.
1
Idiomatic In a disadvantageous or helpless situation, especially one in which one may be controlled or victimized.
- 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:
- 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:
- Synonyms
- up a tree, up the creek, have someone by the short hairs § Synonyms