behind the wire
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
In a prison camp or refugee camp.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Some were to find themselves behind the wire for virtually the entire war.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “behind the wire” mean?
In a prison camp or refugee camp.
Is “behind the wire” formal or informal?
behind the wire is generally slang.