Corner: meaning, definitions and examples

This term is frequently used to describe the point where two streets meet or to refer to a place in a room where walls come together.

• I saw him standing at the corner of 5th Avenue and Main Street.
• She placed the plant in the corner of the living room.

Used metaphorically or in everyday conversation to describe pressuring someone into a difficult situation where they have limited choices.

• She felt cornered by her boss's relentless questioning during the meeting.

In football (soccer), this term is used for planned, rehearsed plays typically executed from a dead ball situation like a free kick, corner, or throw-in. It can also refer to a piece of scenery on a stage or in a film.

• The team's set piece routines are very effective and often result in goals.
• The director was particularly proud of the set piece in the final scene of the play.

Refers to the action of striking something with one's foot, commonly used in sports or casual contexts.

• He took a powerful kick at the ball and scored a goal.
• She gave the door a gentle kick to close it.

Use when someone or something is forced into a position where escape is difficult.

• The cat cornered the mouse
• The police cornered the suspect in a dead-end alley

Use when someone is caught or ensnared, either physically or metaphorically.

• He fell into a trap set by his competitors
• The rabbit was caught in a hunter's trap

Use when someone is attacked by surprise after being lured into a trap. Typically has a negative connotation.

• The soldiers were ambushed while patrolling the forest
• The bandits set up an ambush on the road

Use when someone is prevented from doing something or kept within limits.

• Financial problems constrain their ability to travel
• Rules and regulations constrain our freedoms