( "knees" is a little bit pazling for me because this is a quortation from an English book.May be I had to write the whole sentence to clarify the context.) but your explanations are very clear and I could collect another idioms both in English and Persian. I am thankful for your warm help.

Konnichiwa! You mentioned a very delicate point about that idiom, so please pay attention: Standing on the "knees" is actually not correct!! There're 2 idioms similar to this in the English language: 1) stand on one's (own) two feet It means to act in an independent and forthright manner. For example: I can stand on my own two feet without any help from you! 2) bring (someone or something) to its/their knees It means to have a negative effect, or destroy someone or a group of people, to defeat someone/something. For example: He brought them to their knees by answering all of their questions. He was brought to his knees by the betrayal of his companions. The death of his son brought him to his knees. Both of the two idioms above, have equivalents in the Farsi language with the exact words as above and the same meanings!!! Look: 1) روی پاهای خود ایستادن It means as the same in number 1. 2) کسی (یا چیزی) را به زانو در آوردن It means as the same in number 2. Sayonara! ^^

Little did I dreamed I can collect some Farsi idioms here.thank you.

Raha is corrent but you should also know that american also use "standing on my knees" i mean they use the exact same words :) Standing on its knees = روی پای خودش ایستادن

It's an idiom in Persian. It's similar to this American idiom : Stand on your own two feet. It means : To be able to do what you need to do without help from others. Being Independent. for example : من می خواهم روی پای (پاهای) خودم بایستم. ( I want to stand on my own feet. )