What does"push sb into a corner"mean?

It's a trap - like painting yourself into a corner.

You leave the person no escape route (figuratively). It's an unkind thing to do. The methods may be less than sportsmanlike.

- A.

Metaphorically, to put someone in a position where the only option they have is to do something they didn't want to do.. You'll also see "to back someone into a corner".

For example, in this random piece pulled from Google.

the politician is implying that although he wanted to keep the identities of those he blames for his situation confidential, he now feels his only option is

AvangiThe methods may be less than sportsmanlike.

Hi Avangi

I was just wondering when people say 'less than (a quality)', do they mean that the stated quality does not exist at all or it does exist but is undermined?

Thank you

It's a euphemistic way of saying a negative.

If I say that Mary is less than polite, I really mean that she is, in fact, rude.

He is less than sportsmanlike = he isn't very sportsmanlike, if at all.

Ah I see. This construction could come in handy at times. Thanks for replying, Philip.

PBF

The stated quality does not exist. The expression carries a touch of irony or sarcasm.

Edit. Sorry, Philip, I didn't see your post.

Indeed. If the groom's friend stands up to make a toast at the wedding, but he is sloppy drunk and makes a hash out of it, you might later say "His toast was, shall we say, less than eloquent."

HELLO
TO PUSH SB IN A CORNER MEANS TO PUT THEM IN a difficult situation that THEY cannot easily escape from
to box,force,push somebody into a corner =put someone into a situation where they do not have any choices about what to do

Thank you guys for your replies.

PBF

hellohellowhat does "push sb into a corner" mean?

Thank you in advance

HH

For some reason, "back" someone into a corner sounds more colloquial to me than "push".