go to the wall
The phrase "go to the wall" can describe situations of extreme effort, financial ruin, or taking a strong stance.
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Definition
C1General
(informal, idiomatic)To face failure or financial ruin.
Example
- Many small businesses went to the wall during the economic crisis.
C1General
(informal, idiomatic)To be forced into a difficult or desperate situation.
Example
- When negotiations broke down, they felt they had gone to the wall.
B2General
(informal, idiomatic)To make a great effort or sacrifice to achieve something or support someone.
Example
- She went to the wall to ensure the project's success.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "go to the wall":
hit the wallstare at the wallpaper wallbrick wallback wallballs to the wallstone wallwall kickfront wallpower wallwall humpingside walldomain wallgo to warpiss something up the wallgo tobrick walledgo athanging wallgo to batwall offgo at itgo to hellgo to town