On your last legs
Meaning
To be near the end of one's strength, life, or usefulness, often due to exhaustion or deterioration.
Origin
The phrase "on your last legs" conjures the vivid image of someone or something barely able to stand or move, their limbs trembling and ready to give out from extreme exhaustion, illness, or age. It springs directly from the observable reality of a person or animal at the very end of their physical endurance, taking their final, faltering steps. Though the precise moment of its coinage is elusive, its widespread metaphorical use to describe anything nearing its end – be it a person, an object, or an enterprise – solidified in the 19th century, appearing in the works of prominent British authors like Charles Dickens. It beautifully captures the precarious state of imminent collapse, where all strength has been expended and continuation seems impossible.
Examples
- After working two consecutive overnight shifts, the barista was truly on her last legs and struggled to keep her eyes open.
- Our old family car is definitely on its last legs; the engine light is always on, and the brakes are squealing.