in vigilance

Phrase

 * 1)  Standing on one leg, typically holding a stone in its other, raised leg.

Usage notes

 * Commonly found with pronouns (a crane in its vigilance, in her vigilance, in his vigilance, etc). This alludes to the fable that cranes kept themselves awake by standing on one leg and holding a stone in the other so that if they fell asleep they would drop it and it would wake them back up.