be without a leg to stand on Definition

leg
noun

1. One of the limbs on which animals, birds and people walk and stand.

Thesaurus: limb, appendage, member, part.
2. An animal's or bird's leg used as food.
3. The part of a piece of clothing that covers one of these limbs.
4. A long narrow support of a table, chair, etc.
5. One stage in a journey.
6. A section of a competition or lap of a race.

Thesaurus: lap, portion, segment, stretch.
7a. cricket.
The side of the field that is to the left of a right-handed batsman or to the right of a left-handed batsman;
Form: leg side (also)
7b. cricket.
A fielder positioned on this side of the field. See also fine leg, long leg, short leg, square leg.
8. A branch or limb of a forked or jointed object.

Example: the sharp leg of the compasses

verb

legged, legging
1. To propel (a barge) through a canal tunnel by pushing with the feet on the walls or roof.

Derivative: legged
adj

Note: in compounds
Having a specified number or type of legs.
Example: a three-legged cat
Example: a bow-legged man

Idiom: get one's leg over (have one's leg over)

slang
To have sexual intercourse.

Idiom: give someone a leg up

colloq
To help them climb up or over something.

Idiom: leg it

colloq
To walk briskly, to run or dash away.

Idiom: not have a leg to stand on (be without a leg to stand on)

colloq
To have no way of excusing one's behaviour or supporting one's arguments with facts.

Idiom: pull someone's leg

colloq
To try to make them believe something which is not true, especially as a joke.
Thesaurus: tease, kid, fool, trick, deceive.

Etymology: 13c: from Norse leggr.