on the stump—
1. (of trees) before felling:
- You originally paid in cash for all that timber on the stump just ten thousand dollars.
2. (coll.) engaged in political speech-making:
- Government, in the persons of the Parliamentary heads of departments, is on the stump, or dickering for votes.
up a stump —(coll.)
1. perplexed; at a loss:
- Sociologists are up a stump over the sharp rise in juvenile delinquency and crime.
2. in great straits; in serious difficulties:
- For once in his life, work had him so up a stump that he could not snatch a moment for reading.