C1idiominformalhealthIELTS-friendly
on your last legs
USUK
very tired, weak or ill, or (of a machine) about to stop working
Always plural 'legs'. 'On its last legs' (machines, businesses) is the most frequent form in books (0.059).
In context
By the end of the night shift, the nurses were all on their last legs.
My laptop is on its last legs; the battery lasts about ten minutes.
More idioms about health
- a clean bill of healtha doctor's statement, after an examination, that someone is healthy
- a new lease of lifenew energy, or a chance to be active or useful again
- a ripe old agea very old age, reached in good health
- a second windnew energy that lets you continue after you felt too tired
- a shadow of your former selfmuch weaker, thinner or less impressive than before