on\ one's\ knees

on\ one's\ knees
adj. phr.
1. Pleading; begging very hard.

The boys were on their knees for hours before their parents agreed to their camping plans.

The Jacksons won't contribute to the Red Cross unless you get on your knees.

2. In a very weak condition; near failure.

When the graduates of the school heard that it was on its knees they gave money generously so that it would not close.


Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • fall to one's knees — fall (or drop, sink, etc.) to one s knees assume a kneeling position …   Useful english dictionary

  • on one's knees — {adj. phr.} 1. Pleading; begging very hard. * /The boys were on their knees for hours before their parents agreed to their camping plans./ * /The Jacksons won t contribute to the Red Cross unless you get on your knees./ 2. In a very weak… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • on one's knees — {adj. phr.} 1. Pleading; begging very hard. * /The boys were on their knees for hours before their parents agreed to their camping plans./ * /The Jacksons won t contribute to the Red Cross unless you get on your knees./ 2. In a very weak… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • on one's knees — phrasal : in a state of serious or irremediable defeat or failure a great nation economically on its knees * * * in a kneeling position ■ figurative on the verge of collapse when they took over, the newspaper was on its knees …   Useful english dictionary

  • to one's knees — phrasal : into a state of submission or defeat forced to his knees by competition …   Useful english dictionary

  • up to one’s knees — mod. deep in something, such as paperwork or water. (See also knee deep in something.) □ We’re p to our knees with orders and getting more all the time. □ The orders are up to our knees …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • bring to one's knees — {v. phr.} To seriously weaken the power or impair the function of. * /The fuel shortage brought the automobile industry to its knees./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • bring to one's knees — {v. phr.} To seriously weaken the power or impair the function of. * /The fuel shortage brought the automobile industry to its knees./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • bring\ to\ one's\ knees — v. phr. To seriously weaken the power or impair the function of. The fuel shortage brought the automobile industry to its knees …   Словарь американских идиом

  • to one's knees — phrasal into a state of submission or defeat …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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