behind the wire
The phrase "behind the wire" originates from the use of wire fences to secure prison camps and has since been adopted in various contexts to describe confinement or restricted areas.
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Definition
B2Prison
(slang, informal)Confined within a prison.
Example
- After the trial, he found himself behind the wire for ten years.
B2Military
(slang, informal)Detained in a secured area, often within a military base or detention facility.
Example
- During the conflict, many soldiers were kept behind the wire.
B2Historical
(informal)Interned in a prison camp or refugee camp, especially without trial.
Example
- During World War II, many were held behind the wire without any formal charges.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "behind the wire":
by wireunder the wirebehind the curtainchicken wirecross wiresmulga wirewire rushwire offbehind closed doorsover the fence