drive to the wall

drive to the wall {v. phr.}

To defeat someone completely; to ruin someone.

Poor Uncle Jack was driven to the wall by his angry creditors when his business failed.

Compare: GO TO THE WALL.

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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wall

[wall] See: [BACK TO THE WALL], [BEAT ONE'S HEAD AGAINST A WALL], [CLIMB THE WALL], [FORWARD WALL], [HANDWRITING ON THE WALL], [HOLE-IN-THE-WALL], [STONE WALL] or [BRICK WALL], [TO THE WALL]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

to the wall

[to the wall] {adv. phr.} Into a place from which there is no escape; into a trap or corner. - Usually used after "drive" or a similar word. * /John's […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

back to the wall

[back to the wall] or [back against the wall] {adv. phr.} In a trap, with no way to escape; in bad trouble. * /The soldiers had their backs to the […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

stone wall

[stone wall] or [brick wall] {adj.} Something hard to overcome; an idea or belief that is hard to change. * /The students ran into a brick wall when they asked […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

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