Bedeutung
To force someone to make a decision or take action immediately.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In French business culture, being direct and 'putting someone at the foot of the wall' is often seen as a sign of efficiency rather than rudeness. While understood, Quebecers might also use 'vendre sa salade' (to sell one's salad) in the lead-up to cornering someone, or 'être au bout du rouleau' if the pressure is too much. In many African cultures, indirectness is preferred. Using this phrase can be seen as very aggressive or confrontational compared to European French usage. Belgians use this idiom frequently in political negotiations, which are famous for being long and requiring 'le pied du mur' moments to reach a compromise.
Use with Pronouns
To sound like a native, use object pronouns: 'Je l'ai mis au pied du mur' instead of repeating the name.
Don't use for 'Back against the wall'
If you are the one in trouble, say 'J'ai le dos au mur'. 'Mettre au pied du mur' is usually something you do to others.
Bedeutung
To force someone to make a decision or take action immediately.
Use with Pronouns
To sound like a native, use object pronouns: 'Je l'ai mis au pied du mur' instead of repeating the name.
Don't use for 'Back against the wall'
If you are the one in trouble, say 'J'ai le dos au mur'. 'Mettre au pied du mur' is usually something you do to others.
The 'Yes/No' Rule
This phrase is most effective when you are describing a situation that requires a binary choice.
Teste dich selbst
Conjugate the verb 'mettre' in the correct form.
Hier, j'ai _____ mon frère au pied du mur pour qu'il me rende mon argent.
The sentence is in the Passé Composé. The past participle of 'mettre' is 'mis'.
Which situation best fits the idiom?
Dans quelle situation peut-on dire : 'Je l'ai mis au pied du mur' ?
The idiom means to force a decision or action.
Match the register with the correct sentence.
Match the following:
Acculer is formal, Mettre au pied du mur is neutral, Coincer is informal.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
A: Il refuse toujours de me dire la vérité. B: Tu devrais le ________.
The context of seeking the truth requires the idiom for cornering someone.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Active vs Passive
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenHier, j'ai _____ mon frère au pied du mur pour qu'il me rende mon argent.
The sentence is in the Passé Composé. The past participle of 'mettre' is 'mis'.
Dans quelle situation peut-on dire : 'Je l'ai mis au pied du mur' ?
The idiom means to force a decision or action.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
Acculer is formal, Mettre au pied du mur is neutral, Coincer is informal.
A: Il refuse toujours de me dire la vérité. B: Tu devrais le ________.
The context of seeking the truth requires the idiom for cornering someone.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt describes a forceful action, so it can be perceived as aggressive, but the phrase itself is neutral and used in professional settings.
Yes, you can say 'Je suis au pied du mur' to mean you have no choice left.
'Acculer' is more formal and often implies a physical or desperate trap, while 'mettre au pied du mur' is more common for social/verbal pressure.
Yes, literally 'at the foot of the wall'.
Yes, it's very common for ultimatums in relationships.
No, it is silent: /pje/.
You can say 'On m'a mis au pied du mur' or 'J'ai été mis au pied du mur'.
Yes, it is a universal French idiom understood in France, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, and Africa.
No, 'contre le mur' is literal. The idiom requires 'au pied du mur'.
There isn't a single opposite idiom, but 'laisser le champ libre' (to leave the field open) is a good conceptual opposite.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Mettre les points sur les i
similarTo clarify things very precisely.
Donner un ultimatum
synonymTo give a final demand.
Acculer
specialized formTo drive into a corner.
Lâcher prise
contrastTo let go / stop pressuring.
