"To have your back against the wall"
"To be under the cosh"
"To have a hard row to hoe"
Another nautical one (like the albatross -
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and search for "albatross"): 'In the Doldrums'
A few sporting ones:
Stymied (golf)
Behind the eight ball (pool)
Snookered (snooker)
b