flat on one's back
Without recourse; helpless.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The flu has kept me flat on my back all week.”
“After the business failed and his savings disappeared, he was left flat on his back with no way to pay his debts.”
“The sudden collapse of the regional economy left the small community flat on its back, struggling to find any path toward recovery.”
- 01
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 06
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 07
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026