My laptop has lasted six years already, but I’m afraid it may be on its last legs. It has started giving me small electric shocks when the battery is charging! I had better back-up my files and visit the electronics store to pick up a replacement soon.
Click the video below to watch more example sentences with today’s idiom.
Transcript
Well, I walk on two legs, and spiders walk on eight legs, but what does on its last legs mean? To be on your last legs means to be near the end of life, of existence, or of usefulness.
Let’s look at a few examples of how to use this naturally:
- This computer is on its last legs. It still works, but it takes 20 minutes to start up, and it crashes all the time.
- My poor old dog is on his last legs. He has gone blind, and his legs shake when he walks. Hopefully, he’ll survive another year or so, but I don’t know.
- The government is on its last legs. Its popularity is at 5%, and there are growing calls for a general election.
So, there we have it. Can you use this idiom in a sentence of your own? Let us know in the comments section below.
Practice
Read the questions below and try to answer using the expression you learned in today’s episode.
- Do you have any pieces of technology that you feel need to be updated? Why do you need to replace them?
- Why might a pet owner need to visit the vet when his pet gets old?
- Is there any furniture in your home that needs to be repaired or replaced soon? Why?
We hope you liked this episode! You can find the full series of Everyday Idioms videos here.
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