to corner

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.

1) To corner a person, is to get the advantage of him in an argument, as though he were physically placed in a corner from which he could not escape.


2) A Wall street word, which means to take advantage of a person in a peculiar manner.

"There is a large class of brokers in Wall street, who sometimes control a good deal of money, and who make speculation their business. These generally unite in squads, for the purpose of cornering--which means, that they first get the control of some particular stock, and then, by making a great many contracts on time, compel the parties to pay whatever difference they choose, or rather what they can get; for they sometimes overrate the purse of those they contract with."

A Week in Wall Street, p. 81.

The remarkable fluctuations in the Stock market, are chiefly the result of a successful cornering operation.

N. Y. Journal of Corn.

The Erie Rail-road cornering has been a very unfortunate affair for many members of the board.

N. Y. Herald.

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