out on one's feet
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English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From the sport of boxing, referring to fighter who is too stunned to fight effectively, but who does not collapse to the canvas.
Pronunciation
[edit]Audio (General Australian): (file)
Adjective
[edit]- (idiomatic) Standing erect but not consciously aware of one's surroundings, or only minimally aware, and having little or no ability to control one's bodily actions, as a result of physical injury or exhaustion.
- 1998 April 30, Bob Sculley, “Physician Deplores Medical Indifference To America's”, in Ludington Daily News, retrieved 18 May 2013:
- Such schedules frequently leave them ragged and unrested. "How good is it for a patient to be treated by an intern who is almost out on his feet?" she asked.
- 2000 November 16, Bill Pennington, “Pro Football: Toomer's Concussion Now a Scary Memory”, in New York Times, retrieved 18 May 2013:
- But several of his teammates later said Toomer was jabbering nonsensically in the huddle and seemed out on his feet.
- 2011 April 8, “Cowdenbeath FC's victory thrills Raith Rovers boss John McGlynn”, in The Courier, UK, retrieved 18 May 2013:
- We had so many games to cram in such a short space of time, it really stretched our squad and the lads were out on their feet.
- (idiomatic, by extension) Stupefied; dazed; nonfunctional.
- 1945 April 9, “Puffy, The Hypnotizing Cat, Named Honorary Feline Society President”, in St. Petersburg Times, retrieved 10 May 2013, page 5:
- "Well sir, that girl was simply out on her feet. It wasn't from drinking, either. I'm something of a hypnotist myself and I quickly realized that she was in a real hypnotic trance, brought on by Puffy's staring into her eyes."
- 1955 August 31, “Merchants Form Plan To Aid Small Business: Will help those hit by floods”, in The Hartford Courant, retrieved 18 May 2013, page 1:
- According to Savitt there are many such small concerns who are out on their feet, and still in a state of shock.
- 1968 March 23, John Bird, “The new PM: tired before he starts”, in Financial Post, Canada, retrieved 10 May 2013, page 32:
- The new leader who will be elected on April 6, becoming Prime Minister shortly thereafter, is likely to be very nearly out on his feet.
Synonyms
[edit]- (standing erect but not consciously aware or only minimally aware due to injury or exhaustion): out of it, punch drunk
- (stupefied, dazed, nonfunctional): bewildered, incapacitated, out of it