To corner or drive someone to the wall; to force someone into a situation with no escape (can be literal or figurative, e.g., psychologically or financially).
証拠を積み上げて犯人を追い詰めた。
They gathered evidence and cornered the culprit.
彼は窮地に追い詰められてつい本当のことを話した。
He was driven into a corner and eventually told the truth.
相手を追い詰める戦術は時に逆効果になることがある。
The tactic of cornering an opponent can sometimes backfire.