without a leg to stand on

1. With no chance of success, as in He tried to get the town to change the street lights, but because there was no money in the budget he found himself without a leg to stand on. A related idiom is not have a leg to stand on, as in Once the detective exposed his false alibi, he didn't have a leg to stand on. This metaphoric idiom transfers lack of physical support to arguments or theories. [Late 1500s]

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, Buckingham’s virtuosic guitar comes into its own on “Stephanie,” his instrumental valentine to Nicks, along with “Crystal” and “Without a Leg to Stand On.”

From Salon

I think the businesses were left without a leg to stand on.

From Slate

"A lot of accommodation providers, particularly universities, have reacted well but many students, mostly those renting from private landlords, have been left without a leg to stand on."

From BBC

Mama Mwanza without a leg to stand on lost her two smallest ones.

From Literature

“We don’t simply up and leave . . . the diplomats without a leg to stand on against people who have no diplomatic inclination,” Mattis said.

From Washington Post