[on one’s knees]{adj. phr.} 1. Pleading; begging very hard. •/The boys were on their knees for hours before their parents agreed to their camping plans./ •/The Jacksons won’t contribute to the Red Cross unless you get on your knees./ 2. In a very weak condition; near failure. •/When the graduates of the school heard that it was on its knees they gave money generously so that it would not close./

[on one’s last legs]{adj. phr.} Failing; near the end. •/The blacksmith’s business is on its last legs./ •/The dog is old and sick. He is on his last legs./ Compare: ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE, ON ONE’S KNEES(2).

[on one’s mind]{adv. phr.} In one’s thoughts. •/I’m glad you want to talk about this. It’s been on my mind for weeks./ •/What’s on your mind?/ Compare: IN MIND.

[on one’s nerves] See: GET ON ONE’S NERVES.

[on one’s own]{adj. phr.} With no help from others. •/It is a happy day when you’re allowed to drive a car on your own./ •/Being on your own may be a frightening experience./ Compare: GO IT(2).

[on one’s own account] or {informal} [on one’s own hook] {adv. phr.} 1. For yourself; as a free agent; independently. •/After they had picked out the class gift, members of the committee did some shopping on their own account./ 2. See: OF ONE’S OWN ACCORD.

[on one’s own feet] See: STAND ON ONE’S OWN FEET.

[on one’s own hook] See: ON ONE’S OWN ACCOUNT.

[on one’s own time]{adv. phr.} During one’s free time; not during working or school hours. •/If you want to play football, you’ll have to do it on your own time./

[on one’s part] or [on the part of one] {adj. phr.} 1. Of or by you; of someone’s. •/When Miss Brown said I was a good student, that was pure kindness on her part./ •/The other team blamed their defeat on unfairness on the part of the referee./ 2. See: FOR ONE’S PART.

[on one’s shoulders]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} In your care; as your responsibility. •/The success of the program rests on your shoulders./ •/He acts as if he had the cares of the world on his shoulders./

[on one’s toes]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Alert; ready to act. •/The successful ball player is always on his toes./ Compare: HEADS-UP, ON THE BALL.

[on one’s uppers]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Very poor. •/Mr. White had been out of work for several months and was on his uppers./ Compare: DOWN ON ONE’S LUCK.

[on one’s way] See: ON THE WAY.

[on pain of] also [under pain of] {prep.}, {formal} At the risk of; under penalty of. •/The workers went on strike on pain of losing their jobs./ •/The rebels had to swear under pain of death never to confess where their comrades were hiding./

[on paper]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} Judging by appearances only and not by past performance; in theory; theoretically. •/On paper, the American colonies should have lost the Revolutionary War./ •/The football team lost many games, even though they looked good on paper./

[on pins and needles]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Worried; nervous. •/Jane’s mother was on pins and needles because Jane was very late getting home from school./ •/Many famous actors are on pins and needles before the curtain opens for a play./

[on purpose]{adv. phr.} For a reason; because you want to; not accidentally. •/Jane did not forget her coat; she left it in the locker on purpose./ •/The clown fell down on purpose./

[on record]{adj. phr.} 1. An official or recorded statement or fact; said for everyone to know. •/We do not know when the famous writer was born, but the date of his death is on record./ •/The two candidates went on television to put their ideas on record./ 2. Known to have said or done a certain thing. — Usually used with "as". •/The mayor went on record as opposing a tax raise./ •/The governor is on record as favoring the new highway./ •/That congressman is on record as an enemy of waste in government./ Contrast: OFF THE RECORD.

[on sale]{adj. phr.} Selling for a special low price. •/Tomato soup that is usually sold for sixty cents a can is now on sale for fifty cents./ •/John and Mary couldn’t sell all of the lemonade at twenty cents a cup so they have it on sale for ten cents a cup./

[on schedule(1)]{adv. phr.} As planned or expected; at the right time. •/The school bus arrived at school on schedule./ •/The four seasons arrive on schedule each year./ Compare: ON TIME.

[on schedule(2)]{adj. phr.} Punctual; as planned. •/The new airline claims to have more on schedule arrivals than the competition./

[on season] See: HIGH SEASON. Contrast: OFF SEASON.

[on second thought] See: SECOND THOUGHT.

[on sight] See: AT SIGHT.

[on table] See: WAIT AT TABLE or WAIT ON TABLE.

[on the air]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} Broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or TV. •/His show is on the air at six o’clock./ •/The ball game is on the air now./

[on the alert]{adj. phr.} Alert; watchful; careful. •/Campers must be on the alert for poison ivy and poison oak./ •/Drivers must be on the alert for traffic signals./ Compare: ON ONE’S TOES.

[on the average] See: ON AN AVERAGE.

[on the back] See: PAT ON THE BACK.

[on the ball]{adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Paying attention and doing things well. — Used after "is" or "get". •/Ben is really on the ball in school./ •/The coach told Jim he must get on the ball or he cannot stay on the team./ Compare: GET WITH IT, HEADS-UP, KEEP ONE’S EYE ON THE BALL. 2. That is a skill or ability; making you good at things. — Used after "have". •/John will succeed in life; he has a lot on the ball./ •/The coach was eager to try out his new team and see what they had on the ball./

[on the bandwagon]{adj. phr.}, {informal} In or into the newest popular group or activity; in or into something you join just because many others are joining it. — Often used after "climb", "get", or "jump". •/When all George’s friends decided to vote for Bill, George climbed on the bandwagon too./ See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.

[on the barrelhead] See: CASH ON THE BARRELHEAD.

[on the beam]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. (Of an airplane) In the radio beam that marks the path to follow between airports; flying in the right direction. •/A radio signal tells the pilot of an airplane when he is flying on the beam./ 2. {slang} Doing well; just right; good or correct. •/Kenneth’s answer was right on the beam./ Contrast: OFF THE BEAM.

[on the bench] 1. Sitting in a law court as a judge. •/Judge Wyzanski is on the bench this morning./ 2. Sitting among the substitute players. •/The coach had to keep his star player on the bench with a sprained ankle./ Compare: BENCH WARMER.

[on the blink]{adj. phr.} Faulty; malfunctioning; inoperative. •/I need to call a competent repairman because my computer is on the blink again./

[on the block]{adj. phr.} To be sold; for sale. •/The vacant house was on the block./ •/Young cattle are grown and sent to market to be placed on the block./

[on the brain]{adj. phr.}, {slang} Filling your thoughts; too much thought about; almost always in mind. •/Mary Ann has boys on the brain./ •/Joe’s hobby is ham radio and he has radio on the brain most of the time./