not have a leg to stand on
Lacking any justification
To not have a leg to stand on means to lack any valid argument, evidence, or justification to support one's position.
The phrase evokes the image of someone who cannot physically support themselves, applied metaphorically to someone whose case or claim has no foundation.
Without witnesses or documentation, the plaintiff doesn't have a leg to stand on.
It typically appears in legal, argumentative, or competitive contexts where one party's position is shown to be completely untenable.
- indefensibleCannot be justified
- unsupportedLacking backing or proof
- discreditedProven unworthy of trust
- doubtfulUncertain of truth
- invalidWithout legal force
built on sand · inadmissible · baseless · untenable · full of holes · out on a limb · ungrounded · house of cards · castle in the air · insecure · shaky ground · flawed · unsubstantiated · powerless · dead in the water · fallacious · unjustifiable · undermined
not have a leg to stand onhold all the cards
Have overwhelming advantage