on one's back
The phrase "on one's back" can describe physical positions, states of incapacity, or persistent pressure, depending on the context.
Definition
B2Health
(common)Unable to move or function due to illness or injury.
Example
- She has been on her back for days with the flu.
B2Everyday Life
(informal)Persistently bothering or nagging someone.
Example
- My boss is always on my back about deadlines.
C1Financial
(informal)Completely exhausted or out of resources.
Example
- The company has been on its back since the market crash.
A2Physical
(literal)Lying flat with the back on the ground and the face upward.
Example
- He lay on his back, staring at the sky.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "on one's back":
flat on one's backon someone's backbreak one's backlie backon the back oflay backon one's headon one's kneeson one's legsface downon the back footon all fourson one's sidestanding on one's headon one's feetmonkey on one's backwatch one's backout on one's feeton someone's asslay onon the bumbreak someone's backall fourson the flatbelly uplay downon someone's handsback of one's handlie downbelly outturn one's backdie on one's arseprone outon one's platelay overwith one hand tied behind one's backbend over backwards