not have a leg to stand on

verb

To lack support, as in an argument, debate, or negotiation.

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Meanings

verb
  1. idiomaticTo lack support, as in an argument, debate, or negotiation.

    It was borne in upon Elizabeth that she hadn't got a leg to stand upon and she sat down.

    1931, E. F. Benson, chapter 4, in Mapp and Lucia
    3 more examples

    ‘You see?’ said Mrs Gowan, turning the palms of her hands towards Mr Meagles, as if she were Justice herself, representing to him that he had better confess, for he had not a leg to stand on.

    1857, Charles Dickens, chapter 8, in Little Dorrit, volume 2

    "But Mr. Elwell's lawyers apparently did not take your view, since I suppose the suit was withdrawn by their advice." "Oh, yes, they knew he hadn't a leg to stand on."

    1910, Edith Wharton, “Afterward”, in Tales of Men and Ghosts

    If his word and image are consistently proven to be false, he doesn't have a leg to stand on.

    2003 October 3, Charlie LeDuff, Dean E. Murphy, “The California Recall: Sexual Accusations Prompt an Apology By Schwarzenegger”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 11 Apr 2021
Cite this entry
APA

not have a leg to stand on. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/not%20have%20a%20leg%20to%20stand%20on

MLA

“not have a leg to stand on.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/not%20have%20a%20leg%20to%20stand%20on. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “not have a leg to stand on,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/not%20have%20a%20leg%20to%20stand%20on.

Source: not have a leg to stand on on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.