on the back foot （使）受到威胁;（使）处于不利地位

【例句】
Once he acknowledged the blurring of the distinctions between the public and the private sphere, he was always going to be on the back foot.
他一度承认混淆了公私事务的界限，一直处于不利地位。

High-end apparel seems to be on the back foot, Mr Solca says.
索尔卡表示：高端服装似乎处于不利地位。