on the defensive

English

Prepositional phrase

on the defensive

1. Prepared to defend or protect against criticism, attack or aggression.
   • 1982 December 11, Frances Russell, “Economic performance buoys Pawley’s position”, in The Vancouver Sun (The Weekend Sun), Vancouver, BC, page A6:

     Last year, despite winning 34 of the legislature’s 57 seats with 47 per cent of the popular vote, the NDP was on the defensive almost from the start.

2. (sports) defending; playing a defensive game
   • 2017 November 14, Phil McNulty, “England 0-0 Brazil”, in BBC News‎^[1]:

     Brazil's greater quality and assurance in possession meant England spent much of the game on the defensive.

Antonyms

• on the attack

See also

• initiative
• tempo
• one step ahead

Further reading

• “on the defensive”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.