What Is the Origin of the "To Be over a Barrel"?

To have someone over the barrel means to have someone totally at your mercy. It is a nautical term, which probably derives from two practices:

• Hanging a drowned, usually unconscious person over a barrel to clear their lungs of water.
• Using a barrel as a stage for a disciplinary flogging.

In either scenario, the fate of the "patient" or "victim" was determined solely by the actions of those administering the treatment. In other words, he was at their mercy.

How Do You Say "To Be over a Barrel"?

• To Have Someone over a Barrel

Voice Selection

The following voices are available on your browser.

More Examples of Use

• She's had meover a barrel since she learned about the affair.
• My boss has meover a barrel because he knows I need the money.
• I hate to put youover a barrel, but you have to choose.

Previous and Next Sayings

More Proverbs, Sayings, and Idioms

You might also like...

Help us improve...