Meaning of over a barrel | Babel Free

Definitions

In a disadvantageous or helpless situation, especially one in which one may be controlled or victimized.

idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“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.”

“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".”

CEFR level