on the stumps Definition

stump¹
noun

1. The part of a felled or fallen tree that is left in the ground.
2. The short part of anything, eg a limb, that is left after the larger part has been removed, used up, etc.

Example: a little stump of a pencil
3a. cricket.
Any of the three thin vertical wooden posts that form the wicket;
3b. cricket.
The whole wicket, including the bails.
Form: stumps
4. jocular
A leg.
5a. A stumping walk;
5b. The noise made by a stumping walk.
6. A tree stump or other platform that is used by someone giving a political speech.

verb stumped, stumping

1. To baffle or perplex.

Thesaurus: baffle, bewilder, confound, mystify, nonplus, perplex, puzzle, flummox, stymie.
intr
2. To walk stiffly and unsteadily, or heavily and noisily.
3. cricket.
Said of a fielder, especially a wicketkeeper: to dismiss (a batsman or batswoman) by disturbing the wicket with the ball while they are away from the crease.
4. To reduce to a stump.
5. To clear (land) of tree stumps.
(N Amer, especially US)
intr
6. To go round making political speeches.

Derivative: stumper
noun

Idiom: draw stumps

To bring a match to an end.

To finish something.

Idiom: on the stumps

( Amer, especially US)
Busy with political campaigning, especially by going round delivering speeches.

Idiom: stir one's stumps

To start moving, especially after a period of inactivity.

Etymology: 14c: from stumpen to stumble.

Phrasal Verb: stump up

To pay.