Region: General | Usage example: By promising the opposite, he painted himself into a corner.

Paint oneself into a corner

Meaning

Limit one's options by acting unwisely.

Common in negotiations to warn against throwing away flexibility.

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Literally painting a floor and trapping oneself near a wall.

Mid-20th century American columnists used it to describe political blunders.