on (one's)/its knees

1. In a position or manner of supplication or humble entreaty. Jeb might have scorned me for the manual labor job I offered him here 10 years ago, but he's been on his knees begging for it now that the economy has gone south.

2. In a weakened or desperate state; in a condition or state of decline or near ruin. The megacorporation, once so dominant, has been on its knees ever since news of its involvement in the banking scandal became public knowledge.

on your knees

1 in a kneeling position. 2 on the verge of collapse.

on your ˈknees

1 kneeling down: He was on his knees praying. ♢ She was on her knees looking for the coin.
2 in a very weak state: The country’s economy is on its knees.