over a barrel

English

1912 illustration of an inmate being punished in an American prison

(idiomatic) In a disadvantageous or helpless situation, especially one in which one may be controlled or victimized.
- 1947 Sept. 1, "Happy Day," Time:
  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.
- 2018 Sept. 1, "AP sources: Lawyer was told Russia had 'Trump over a barrel'," AP News:
  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".

in a helpless situation

“over a barrel” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
“over a barrel” in Merriam–Webster Online Dictionary.

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