Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

over a barrel

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.16 in modern English

Syllables: over a bar-rel
IPA

16

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

prep_phrase

In a disadvantageous or helpless situation, especially one in which one may be controlled or victimized.

Example Sentences

"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."
"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"."

Etymology

According to The Oxford English Dictionary and The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms, the phrase possibly refers to the act of placing an individual who has been rescued from drowning over a barrel to allow their lungs to clear of water.

Synonyms

up a tree up the creek have someone by the short hairs § Synonyms

Questions

What does over a barrel mean?: In a disadvantageous or helpless situation, especially one in which one may be controlled or victimized.
Where does over a barrel come from?: According to The Oxford English Dictionary and The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms, the phrase possibly refers to the act of placing an individual who has been rescued from drowning over a barrel to allow their lungs to clear of water.

How to pronounce over a barrel

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