on the defensive

Idioms  

1. Prepared for withstanding aggression or attack, as in The debate team's plan was to keep their opponents on the defensive, or This teacher put students on the defensive about their mistakes. [c. 1600]

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Example Sentences

“Every position matters. So, I was trying to make plays and not only offense, but on the defensive side. And rebound, and all that. So, that’s what I was doing.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

“I think we’re still continuing to get better in that… It’s not about whether shots go in. It’s about how we’re consistently playing and on the defensive end.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

Third, if you do confront the team, you need conflict-management skills: How will you approach the problem without putting people on the defensive?

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

PayPal, the fintech payments platform, has been on the defensive, down 45% from its most recent 52-week high, even after a 6% pop Monday on takeover speculation.

From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026

Mangelsdorf’s side found itself on the defensive; litis had gleefully pointed out that the “wild maize” cobs from the Tehuacan Valley were identical to those of an unusual, fully domesticated variety of popcorn from Argentina.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• anxious
• apprehensive
• cautious
• edgy
• nervous
• uneasy