Last legs

Posted by Victoria S Dennis on February 21, 2010 at 18:05

In Reply to: Last legs posted by Dave on February 18, 2010 at 13:45:

: I am curious about the origin of the prhase "On its last legs". Very few animals are capable of growing new legs, so i doubt this has to do with creature legs. Perhaps it has to do with furniture?

Unlikely. It's a common enough experience, when you have got tired walking or running, to find that some refreshing event - a drink, some encouraging news, whatever - has given you "new legs". So it's not unreasonable to say, when you are exhausted beyond the point where any such thing could revive you, that you are on your last legs. (VSD)