(put/catch somebody) on the back foot verb phrase
To put somebody in a difficult or disadvantageous situation
The Covid-19 outbreak has put the national economy on the back foot.
The unexpected problem caught me on the wrong foot.
The verb "put" and "catch" should be conjugated according to their tense.
"on the back foot" is a phrase that is most probably derived from the sport of cricket. A stance where most of the player’s weight is on the back foot refers to a situation in which he is delivering a defensive stroke.
Being on the brink of death with the mouth showing the Q-sign
She is in the Q-zone due to massive blood loss.