Introduction / Context:
“On its last legs” is a vivid idiom that portrays a person, machine, or enterprise as near collapse—exhausted and close to failure. In business reporting and everyday speech, the phrase signals that an entity has almost run out of resources, energy, or viability and may soon cease operations unless something dramatic changes.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Subject: a business (company, shop, or venture).
- Condition: “on its last legs” → end-stage decline.
- We need the option indicating imminent failure, not growth or success.
Concept / Approach:
The metaphor imagines a creature barely able to stand. Translating this into corporate health, it means severe distress—a final phase before shutdown. Thus, “About to perish” captures the impending end. Options implying growth or success (“fructify,” “produce results,” “take off”) contradict the idiom’s meaning and should be rejected as distractors.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Decode the metaphor: last legs → almost finished.2) Match to business context: near collapse or closure.3) Select “About to perish” as the closest paraphrase.4) Eliminate options that suggest progress or launch.
Verification / Alternative check:
Substitute: “Their business is about to perish.” The gravity and imminence of failure remain intact, confirming the selection.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
About to fructify / About to produce results / About to take off: These indicate success or growth, the opposite trajectory.
Common Pitfalls:
Confusing “last legs” with “last lap.” The latter can imply a final stage before completion or success; “last legs” implies near collapse and failure.
Final Answer:
About to perish
Discussion & Comments