[on one’s knees]{adj. phr.} 1. Pleading; begging very hard. •/Theboys were on their knees for hours before their parents agreed to their campingplans./ •/The Jacksons won’t contribute to the Red Cross unless you get onyour knees./ 2. In a very weak condition; near failure. •/When thegraduates of the school heard that it was on its knees they gave moneygenerously so that it would not close./

[on one’s last legs]{adj. phr.} Failing; near the end. •/Theblacksmith’s business is on its last legs./ •/The dog is old and sick. Heis on his last legs./ Compare: ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE, ON ONE’S KNEES(2).

[on one’s mind]{adv. phr.} In one’s thoughts. •/I’m glad you want totalk about this. It’s been on my mind for weeks./ •/What’s on your mind?/Compare: IN MIND.

[on one’s nerves] See: GET ON ONE’S NERVES.

[on one’s own]{adj. phr.} With no help from others. •/It is a happyday when you’re allowed to drive a car on your own./ •/Being on your ownmay be a frightening experience./ Compare: GO IT(2).

[on one’s own account] or {informal} [on one’s own hook] {adv.phr.} 1. For yourself; as a free agent; independently. •/After they hadpicked out the class gift, members of the committee did some shopping on theirown account./ 2. See: OF ONE’S OWN ACCORD.

[on one’s own feet] See: STAND ON ONE’S OWN FEET.

[on one’s own hook] See: ON ONE’S OWN ACCOUNT.

[on one’s own time]{adv. phr.} During one’s free time; not duringworking or school hours. •/If you want to play football, you’ll have to do iton your own time./

[on one’s part] or [on the part of one] {adj. phr.} 1. Of or byyou; of someone’s. •/When Miss Brown said I was a good student, that was purekindness on her part./ •/The other team blamed their defeat on unfairnesson the part of the referee./ 2. See: FOR ONE’S PART.

[on one’s shoulders]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} In your care; as yourresponsibility. •/The success of the program rests on your shoulders./•/He acts as if he had the cares of the world on his shoulders./

[on one’s toes]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Alert; ready to act.•/The successful ball player is always on his toes./ Compare: HEADS-UP, ONTHE BALL.

[on one’s uppers]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Very poor. •/Mr. Whitehad been out of work for several months and was on his uppers./ Compare: DOWNON ONE’S LUCK.

[on one’s way] See: ON THE WAY.

[on pain of] also [under pain of] {prep.}, {formal} At the riskof; under penalty of. •/The workers went on strike on pain of losing theirjobs./ •/The rebels had to swear under pain of death never to confess wheretheir comrades were hiding./

[on paper]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} Judging by appearances only andnot by past performance; in theory; theoretically. •/On paper, the Americancolonies should have lost the Revolutionary War./ •/The football team lostmany games, even though they looked good on paper./

[on pins and needles]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Worried; nervous.•/Jane’s mother was on pins and needles because Jane was very late gettinghome from school./ •/Many famous actors are on pins and needles before thecurtain opens for a play./

[on purpose]{adv. phr.} For a reason; because you want to; notaccidentally. •/Jane did not forget her coat; she left it in the locker onpurpose./ •/The clown fell down on purpose./

[on record]{adj. phr.} 1. An official or recorded statement or fact;said for everyone to know. •/We do not know when the famous writer was born,but the date of his death is on record./ •/The two candidates went ontelevision to put their ideas on record./ 2. Known to have said or done acertain thing. — Usually used with "as". •/The mayor went on record asopposing a tax raise./ •/The governor is on record as favoring the newhighway./ •/That congressman is on record as an enemy of waste ingovernment./ Contrast: OFF THE RECORD.

[on sale]{adj. phr.} Selling for a special low price. •/Tomato soupthat is usually sold for sixty cents a can is now on sale for fifty cents./•/John and Mary couldn’t sell all of the lemonade at twenty cents a cup sothey have it on sale for ten cents a cup./

[on schedule(1)]{adv. phr.} As planned or expected; at the right time.•/The school bus arrived at school on schedule./ •/The four seasonsarrive on schedule each year./ Compare: ON TIME.

[on schedule(2)]{adj. phr.} Punctual; as planned. •/The new airlineclaims to have more on schedule arrivals than the competition./

[on season] See: HIGH SEASON. Contrast: OFF SEASON.

[on second thought] See: SECOND THOUGHT.

[on sight] See: AT SIGHT.

[on table] See: WAIT AT TABLE or WAIT ON TABLE.

[on the air]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} Broadcasting or being broadcaston radio or TV. •/His show is on the air at six o’clock./ •/The ball gameis on the air now./

[on the alert]{adj. phr.} Alert; watchful; careful. •/Campers mustbe on the alert for poison ivy and poison oak./ •/Drivers must be on thealert for traffic signals./ Compare: ON ONE’S TOES.

[on the average] See: ON AN AVERAGE.

[on the back] See: PAT ON THE BACK.

[on the ball]{adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Paying attention and doingthings well. — Used after "is" or "get". •/Ben is really on the ball inschool./ •/The coach told Jim he must get on the ball or he cannot stay onthe team./ Compare: GET WITH IT, HEADS-UP, KEEP ONE’S EYE ON THE BALL. 2.That is a skill or ability; making you good at things. — Used after "have".•/John will succeed in life; he has a lot on the ball./ •/The coach waseager to try out his new team and see what they had on the ball./

[on the bandwagon]{adj. phr.}, {informal} In or into the newestpopular group or activity; in or into something you join just because manyothers are joining it. — Often used after "climb", "get", or "jump". •/Whenall George’s friends decided to vote for Bill, George climbed on the bandwagontoo./ See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.

[on the barrelhead] See: CASH ON THE BARRELHEAD.

[on the beam]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. (Of an airplane) In theradio beam that marks the path to follow between airports; flying in the rightdirection. •/A radio signal tells the pilot of an airplane when he is flyingon the beam./ 2. {slang} Doing well; just right; good or correct.•/Kenneth’s answer was right on the beam./ Contrast: OFF THE BEAM.

[on the bench] 1. Sitting in a law court as a judge. •/Judge Wyzanski ison the bench this morning./ 2. Sitting among the substitute players. •/Thecoach had to keep his star player on the bench with a sprained ankle./Compare: BENCH WARMER.

[on the blink]{adj. phr.} Faulty; malfunctioning; inoperative. •/Ineed to call a competent repairman because my computer is on the blinkagain./

[on the block]{adj. phr.} To be sold; for sale. •/The vacant housewas on the block./ •/Young cattle are grown and sent to market to be placedon the block./

[on the brain]{adj. phr.}, {slang} Filling your thoughts; too muchthought about; almost always in mind. •/Mary Ann has boys on the brain./•/Joe’s hobby is ham radio and he has radio on the brain most of the time./