Meanings
idiomatic · with a verb of movementon one's last legs, running on fumes (close to collapsing from a lack of energy, engagement, resources, etc.)
Es schlug fünf und Kolbe stand immer noch. Seine Knie begannen zu zittern. Es schlug sechs. Kolbe glaubte, bereits auf dem Zahnfleisch zu stehen.Five o'clock, and Kolbe was still standing there. His knees started shaking. Six o'clock. Kolbe felt as though there was nothing left of his legs.
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see auf, Zahnfleisch.