French Expression · Advanced
Être au pied du mur
To be up against a wall / To be in a tight spot
Pronunciation: ÊTRE oh pyé dü MÜR
Meaning
To be in a difficult situation with no easy escape, often forced to take action or make a decision.
Example
Maintenant qu'il est au pied du mur, il doit prendre une décision rapide.
Now that he's up against a wall, he has to make a quick decision.
Common mistakes & tips
- Practice Être au pied du mur out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this is a advanced-level French expression.