英语短语 "not have a leg to stand on" 是一个常用的比喻性表达,核心含义是“(观点、主张、论点等)没有依据、站不住脚、缺乏支撑”,即无法通过证据或逻辑证明自己的说法合理,相当于“没有立足之地”。
字面:“没有腿可以站立”(物理上无法保持平衡);
引申:(抽象意义上)无法支撑自己的观点/主张——缺乏证据、逻辑漏洞大,或理由不成立,导致无法说服他人。
该短语通常用于描述观点、论点、指控、借口等缺乏合理性,主语可以是“人”“观点”“主张”“借口”等,常见搭配为:
sb. doesn’t have a leg to stand on(某人的说法站不住脚);
sth. doesn’t have a leg to stand on(某件事/主张没有依据)。
以下是不同场景的实用例子,帮助理解:
If you can’t show me any receipts, your claim that I owe you money doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
(如果你拿不出任何收据,你说我欠你钱的说法根本站不住脚。)
She accused me of lying, but she has no leg to stand on—I have witnesses who saw what happened.
(她指责我撒谎,但她没有依据——我有目击证人可以证明当时的情况。)
The prosecution’s case didn’t have a leg to stand on without the DNA evidence, so the judge dismissed the charges.
(没有DNA证据,检方的指控完全站不住脚,所以法官驳回了起诉。)
The company’s argument that the contract is invalid has no leg to stand on—both parties signed it.
(公司声称合同无效的理由不成立——双方都签了字。)
His excuse for being late doesn’t have a leg to stand on—he said his car broke down, but I saw him at the café 10 minutes ago.
(他迟到的借口站不住脚——他说车坏了,但我10分钟前还在咖啡馆看到他。)
时态变化:根据语境调整(一般现在时doesn’t have、过去时didn’t have、现在完成时hasn’t had等);
否定形式:可表达为not have a leg to stand on 或 have no leg to stand on(两者等价);
主语灵活:可以是“人”(如he/she)、“观点”(如argument/claim)、“借口”(如excuse)等。
have no basis(没有依据);
be unfounded(无根据的);
lack merit(缺乏价值/合理性);
be without justification(没有正当理由)。
“not have a leg to stand on”是一个形象的口语/书面表达,用来强调某观点或主张“缺乏支撑、无法成立”。记住它的核心:“没依据,站不住脚”,遇到需要否定他人说法或指出逻辑漏洞时,就可以用这个短语啦!