on one’s hind legs —(joc.)
1. standing up (to make a speech):
- Richard got on his hind legs and said that no decent man ought to read Shakespeare’s sonnets.
2. (coll.) very angry; enraged:
- “Don’t get on your hind legs but just listen to me,” returned Betty composedly.
on the back foot—(UK) in a defensive position; preparing to retreat:
- For much of the campaign, he was on the back foot, criticised and scrutinised, his strategy derided.