Idiom
Over a barrel
If someone has you over a barrel, they have put you in a position where you have no choice but to do what they want.
How people use it
The usual pattern is "have someone over a barrel": "The landlord knew we needed the apartment, so he had us over a barrel." It often comes up with money, contracts and repairs, when one side holds all the power. The tone is informal and suggests unfairness or pressure. The person over the barrel is always the weaker side. It is close to "between a rock and a hard place," but the focus here is on someone else controlling you.
Also said: have someone over a barrel.
Examples
- With the deadline tomorrow, the only repair shop in town had us over a barrel.
- The supplier knew we had no other options, so they had us over a barrel on price.
- Ana felt over a barrel when her car broke down far from home and the tow truck charged triple.
Where it comes from
No one knows for certain. One theory points to an old way of trying to revive someone pulled from the water: they were laid face down over a barrel, which was rolled to help clear their lungs, leaving them completely helpless. Another links it to an old punishment in which a person was bent over a barrel. The phrase is recorded in American English in the first half of the 1900s.
Check yourself
1. If a company has you over a barrel, what is your situation?
Answer: You have no choice but to accept their terms. Being over a barrel means someone else holds the power and you can't refuse.
2. Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Answer: The only plumber open on the holiday had us over a barrel.. The idiom fits when one side has no real choice, not when there are plenty of options.
Similar idioms
Word game fan? See every word hiding in BARREL.