flat on one's back

The idiom "flat on one's back" can describe both a literal and figurative state of helplessness or incapacitation.

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Definition

B2General

(literal)Lying down with the back against a surface, often due to illness or injury.

Example

After the accident, he was flat on his back for weeks.

B2General

(figurative)Feeling helpless, defeated, or unable to cope with a difficult situation.

Example

With all the bills piling up, she felt flat on her back financially.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "flat on one's back":

on one's back lie back fall flat on one's face lay back on the flat face down break one's back lie down lay down laid up lay on out on one's feet standing on one's head on someone's back on one's knees on all fours lay in die on one's arse lay over on one's legs on the back foot on one's feet belly up all fours lie around on the bum lay open in bed flat out prone out belly out