New expression I learned
- 280
- 2
- 1
I learned new expression yesterday; it's " on one's(its) last legs."
In some one's blog, it says," My cold is on its last legs." and means" it's almost finished."
I checked this phrase in the dictionary and it says" 人が死にかかって（(dying)、疲れきって(exhausted)、破産しそうになって(going bankrupt)."
Now I'm wondering why the sentence"My cold is on last legs" means "it's almost finished."
Another question is why"legS" not"leg". I know I should understand it as a phrase,though.
Do you use this phrase casually in your daily life?
Would you please show me some example sentences ?
Thanks in advance for your corrections and advice.
In some one's blog, it says," My cold is on its last legs." and means" it's almost finished."
I checked this phrase in the dictionary and it says" 人が死にかかって（(dying)、疲れきって(exhausted)、破産しそうになって(going bankrupt)."
Now I'm wondering why the sentence"My cold is on last legs" means "it's almost finished."
Another question is why"legS" not"leg". I know I should understand it as a phrase,though.
Do you use this phrase casually in your daily life?
Would you please show me some example sentences ?
Thanks in advance for your corrections and advice.
A New expression that I learned
I learned a new expression yesterday; it's " on one's(its) last legs."
In some one's blog, it sayssaid," My cold is on its last legs." and it means" it's almost finished." Of course, it is still written, but we use "said" because you read it in the past.
Another question is why is it "legS" not"leg".?
It is an idiom phrase that has changed over the years. First you have to realize that the word "legs" has two meanings. The two things we stand on and stages of a race.
The original saying "On its last leg" referred to the last lap of a race. The runner/horse would be exhausted when this final lap is completed. This was the original phrase. But over time it became synonymous with the legs of the exhausted animal or runner.
So it was originally "On its last leg." referring to laps of a race
then changed to "On its last legs." as it changed to mean the legs of the racer
Or it came from the fact that when some animals are old/sick they can hardly walk. Maybe only one or two legs are still strong. So it tries to move around with those. But if an animal is this bad off, it usually dies pretty soon after.
But it is an idiom phrase so people say it both ways. Neither is incorrect, I don't think. It isn't super popular, but everyone pretty much knows this phrase.
I hope you understand all that. :)
Thanks for your corrections and ideas!
>it's common→I see.
Hi Jacob,
Thanks for your detailed explanations!
>The two things we stand on and stages of a race.→I had no idea about it.
It helps a lot.