on the back foot

Definitions

1. Having the weight on the back foot in order to play a defensive stroke
2. in a defensive posture; on the defensive; off balance; at a disadvantage.
   Commonwealth, idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“Lawson wasn't going to be put⟳ on the back foot by Brian Duff. "I don't know⟳ what you're on about. But I've kept my nose clean⟳ for over twenty years.”

“Now I was the one on the back foot. He liked me. "Really?" "I'd like⟳ to take⟳ you out when we're back in LA"”

“She was on the back foot now. I had taken the initiative good and proper.”

“Thitinan said Yingluck's decision to skip⟳ the verdict hearing will have⟳ "emboldened" the military government. "They would not have⟳ wanted to put⟳ her in jail, in this scenario, (but her not showing up today) puts her on the back foot and gives them an edge."”

“HS2 Ltd is presumably on the back foot in its relations with Government, because of its cost⟳ increases.”

CEFR level