paint oneself into a corner
To create a predicament or problem for oneselfTo create a predicament or problem for oneself; to do something that leaves one with no good alternatives or solutions.
» I think we've painted ourselves into a corner.
Кажется, мы сами себя загнали в угол. — Wezel
Я думаю, ми загнали себе в глухий кут. — deniko
CK · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
1 senses(idiomatic)To create a predicament or problem for oneself; to do something that leaves one with no good alternatives or solutions.
Examples
4 sentencesTranslations
3 languagesOrigin
From the idea that a person painting the floor of a room may inadvertently apply the paintFrom the idea that a person painting the floor of a room may inadvertently apply the paint over the whole floor and trap themselves in a corner away from any exit, so that to leave the room the person has no choice but to step on the fresh paint and ruin it.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
paints oneself into a corner, painting oneself into a corner, painted oneself into a corner, painted oneself into a corner| Base form | paint oneself into a corner · to paint oneself into a corner |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | paints oneself into a corner |
| Present participle | painting oneself into a corner |
| Past simple | painted oneself into a corner |
| Past participle | painted oneself into a corner |
irregular
Present simpleLesson
| I, you, we, they | paint oneself into a corner |
| he, she, it | paints oneself into a corner |
Past simpleLesson
| all persons | painted oneself into a corner |
Present perfectLesson
| I, you, we, they | have painted oneself into a corner |
| he, she, it | has painted oneself into a corner |
Future simple (will)Lesson
| all persons | will paint oneself into a corner |
Synonyms
5 synonymsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle
See also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.