Cornered
'kɔːrnərd
Definitions
2 meaningsTo trap or force someone or something into a situation from which escape is difficult or impossible.
'kɔːrnərd
To force someone or something into a difficult or inescapable situation.
The police cornered the suspect in an alleyway.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're playing hide-and-seek, and you find the other person in a spot where they can't run away. You've 'cornered' them. It's like trapping someone with no way out.
👶 For kids: When someone is trapped somewhere and can't get away, they're 'cornered.' Like when a cat gets stuck in a box.
More Examples
The company was cornered by a lack of funding.
The animal, cornered by the predator, fought back bravely.
How It's Used
"The opposition party cornered the government with questions about the scandal."
"The hunters cornered the bear in a cave."
Being in a difficult or inescapable situation; trapped.
'kɔːrnərd
Being in a difficult position.
The cornered investor had to sell at a loss.
💡 Simply: When you're feeling like you have no good options, or the pressure's on and you can't easily get out of it, you're 'cornered.'
👶 For kids: If you're in a spot where you don't have many choices, you're 'cornered.'
More Examples
Feeling cornered, she agreed to the demands.
The cornered animal hissed at its captors.
How It's Used
"The company found itself in a cornered situation."
"He felt cornered by his choices."
From Middle English 'corneren', derived from 'corner' (Old French 'corner', Latin 'cornu', meaning 'horn', originally referring to a corner or angle). The verb meaning developed to describe being forced into a confined position or situation.
The word 'corner' was used in the 14th century to describe a physical angle. The verb usage, meaning to force into a difficult position, developed later.
Memory tip
Imagine a mouse trapped in a corner; it can't escape.